What a cool way to be introduced to a community! A friend and I are in Boston for a week, and we wanted to grab some breakfast after coming into Boston last night. We walked around and didn't find much, until we stumbled upon Ryles. What a cool place! On the first Sunday of every month they have the Patricia Adams Ensemble (upright bass, piano, drums and vocal quartet) playing some awesome jazz tunes. The food was awesome - just like you would get at home. Try the croissants if you can - delicious! A definite place to try if you're in the area!
We go for jazz brunch and take visitors often. The place has typical diner food and prices. I don't recommend the croissant with ham and eggs. I do love the omelette, quiches, and eggs Benedict of all varieties. The atmosphere is one of an older hotel lounge. the restaurant S and S caters and there are so many options to make anyone full! All our visitors have left full and happy.
(4)
Arthur C.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ryles Sunday Jazz Brunch. I came with the intention of watching/hearing Yoko Miwa Trio who are an amazing bunch of musicians. The food was good, and well-priced (portions were generous) and I'd definitely come back again when Yoko Miwa Trio is performing. The only downside was that there was only one waitress for the entire restaurant which got pretty full fast. Very slow to get coffee, water, and the check.
(3)
Christian J.
Such a great atmosphere to go dancing, charming, nice, good music, great people. Very nice place.
(5)
Mary M.
I came here for the Jazz brunch and I enjoyed it. The food is your typical diner breakfast food and is pretty good and decently priced. I really enjoyed the Bloody Mary here too and the service was decent despite how busy they were. Loved the Jazz!
(4)
Melissa B.
I went to the jazz bunch this morning with a few friends and I was really impressed! The food was awesome... Great pancakes and eggs... and the service was great! The music was very lively and wasn't too loud so my friends and I could still easily carry on a conversation. We arrived at around 10:30 and very quickly got a table although it looked like there was a wait once we left around noon.
(4)
KaterÃn F.
I love coming here for College Night. The place is typically filled with older people otherwise. The music is great - they play old school bachata and even dembow! The drinks are a little on the watery side. And the selection ain't that great. I love how willing the guys are to dance (I'm the type of girl who goes right up to a guy and asks him if he wants to dance) and usualllyyyyy how good they are. This is the only place in the greater boston area where I've found lots of Dominicanos as well - always a plus for me since I'm homesick often and I be missing my people. Icing on the cake: clean ass bathrooms. The entrance is also reasonable, $5 before 11pm and $10 after.
(4)
Natalie G.
Emily did an amazing job as the only waitress serving over 50 people insight. The man at the door was rude and unpleasant and made me and my party of eight almost want to turn around and leave but we really wanted to celebrate so we stayed and enjoyed ourselves despite him. This place really needs to hire more people but it has great potential.
(3)
Meizi H.
It might be a great place for salsa dancing but def not for foodies. I went for brunch and ordered salmon hash, which was insanely fishy and heavy. My friend ordered french toast and it was not good either. (I don't know how you mess up the toasts) The music was so loud, even us , a group of four sit in the back and still felt like yelling during conversation. I saw some birthday and family gathering parties taken place and it might be a good place for those who dislike engaging any conversation. The crowd was a bit "senior" during weekend brunch. very stressful dining experience for me. It's like cheap diner with loud jazz music. It might have been better if I wasn't sober. (their Bloody Mary was too weird spicy or too much of Worcestershire sauce, I barely could have second sip )
(1)
Vivian C.
Sunday night Salsa lessons were scheduled to begin at 6pm, but at 6pm there were just a few couples seated at the bar... and that's it. The DJ didn't arrive and begin setting up till a few minutes later. The lesson began at perhaps 6:20-6:30pm with a single gentleman instructor, who seemed nice and led with a firm hand. Most of the dance floor was filled with couples, as was mentioned above. Other than our little group of single ladies, there were a few other ladies without a dance partner, so the teacher assured us he would make the rounds. Three dances were taught - Merengue, Salsa, and I can't remember the name of the 2nd that had the tap after every third step. We learned the basic move for the leader, how to turn, how to travel, then paired off to learn to do it together. As the dance floor filled, the instructor had the lines rotate back so everyone had a chance to get a good view of the lesson from the front. Lessons lasted till nearly 8pm with a brief break for water. It was basic, yet fun, and cost $10. For an additional $5, you could have a single trip through their short buffet line. On our night there was a bowl of knotted rolls, a second bowl of a fresh basic tossed salad (a mix of greens, cucumber, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, croutons), and two hot trays (one half and half buffalo wings and rice pilaf, the second a vegetarian penne pasta dish with a red sauce). Fills your stomach, but nothing exciting. The pasta was overcooked. The dance floor remained opened and some new people showed up who seemed to know what they were doing, including a couple that I spotted who arrived carrying their dance shoes, and an individual fella who went around the room asking the various ladies for a dance.
(3)
Charlena K.
I've been here twice- both times for musical showcases. The venue can get pretty loud which drowns out the signers, but overall it's a cool place. Music, bar and dining on the first floor; salsa dancing on the second. Clean restrooms. Good nachos. Cool vibes for music lovers. The second time I went they were way understaffed, but the man behind the bar was awesome (perhaps his name was Warren, I don't recall). $7 cover charge. Street parking is impossible although both times I went I found parking after only about 5 mins of searching.
(4)
Natalie D.
Sunday brunch here was excellent! We had a reservation for 4 at 1pm and we were seated right away once our party was complete. Live jazz was amazing but no air conditioning or open windows made the air stuffy. Service could have been better -we needed more time to think about ordering and the server seemed huffy about it. Food was perfect and drinks were solid. I can't wait to come back here for another Sunday brunch.
(4)
Pam S.
The music is great, they have good jazz performance. However, the food is just average. They serve very large portion, however I always prefer quality to quantity.
(3)
Archu S.
Me and my husband went there last Friday and to our surprise the bar was empty! We got the best seat though as we had the first choice. We ordered some food - Pizza and Fish, both were terrible! Pizza looked and tasted like it was deep fried. Fish was not fresh and that great. After hour and half the band started to set up the stage and we were pretty excited about the live jazz music. We were sooo happy that the band was awesome! It was really good. We ordered some drinks - martinis, they were terrible too. The olives in the martini were old and stale. Apart from the live music, there is nothing else I would recommend!
(3)
Nisreen G.
This is a review solely for the salsa and Latin nights on the weekend: So. Much. Fun. Here's why I love Ryle's salsa and swing nights on the weekends: there is no judgement from anyone. There are very few places in the city where people are doing organized dances and don't mind the slightly off beat two left feet baffoon bopping around them ( yeah, that's me. I'm proud of it.) Loud music, a happy DJ, and a room full of people who are there just to dance. Bachata, meringue, salsa, swing, with so many different styles of music and instructors willing to jump in and dance with you if your partner-less or just show you a few moves, there really are few other ways to just dance. While all the Latin nights are 18+ the crowd age ranges pretty much weekly from 20 - 50 year olds enjoying the music. The price at entry is between 10-15$ depending on the weekend night and while 15 seems a little pricey, most sessions include dance lessons before and a party till at least 1 am. Not a bad package deal. Bring your friends, take a date, go by yourself, whatever your preference it's definitely worth checking out Ryles on a weekend night.
(4)
Tanya S.
Brunch menu is definitely creative, and the jazz group is always very enthusiastic and fun to watch! It's a treat. The waiter service can vary a lot, but the basics are definitely covered.
(4)
Corey L.
Went there for a goodbye party for a co-worker. Was a great venue for it. I like their drink selection (particularly bottled beer). Staff was great, prices were reasonable. I've also been there for other occasions, including dancing. I like this place. Parking is a pain
(4)
Jess R.
We came here for the jazz brunch on my mom's birthday. The music was great. The food (at least at brunch) is identical to the S&S across the street. I did notice a slightly odd taste to both the home fries and the bagel which I've never noticed at the S&S--not inedible, just weird. However, the real reason this review is only two stars is because of the reservations issue. Their web site was down when I tried to make reservations for brunch, so I phoned them. The guy I spoke to took my reservation over the phone. I even asked him if I needed to call back later to confirm, and he said no, everything was all set. We showed up on the day and time of the reservation, and...no reservation. Luckily, they were able to seat us anyways. I asked the hostess about it, and all she could say was that they really prefer people to do reservations on the web site and that whoever takes reservations over the phone doesn't really write them down or anything. In other words, they lied to me about taking my reservation. Not cool, Ryles, not cool.
(2)
Lissa M.
I went there for a Sunday Brunch. It was great!! Truth is, that I was going to visit City Girl Cafe with 4 friends, but it ended up being so small and a long wait. We stumbled upon Ryles cafe and I was blown away! This is a GREAT Sunday Brunch spot. There was live music, great lighting, nice ambiance, and friendly staff. The service is a tad slow, but the food was great. I had the Croissant French Toast and it was delicious!! My friends had the French Toast with Brie and fig and he said it was great. Another friend said their potatoes weren't the best; but overall presentatino and food was really good. The orange juice was phenomonal. Great spot for a small group. Great date spot. And there's live music every day. I would definitely come back to check this place out at night, although the dance floor looks TINY.
(4)
Matthew I.
Walking past on a Sunday, heard the jazz and decided to try it. Great music. Really nice jazz, perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch. Tried the Eggs Benedict. Unfortunately the eggs were slightly under-cooked, and the hollandaise a little bland. My partner had the Corned-beef hash which was done well with onions in a juicy mash, not too salty either. The two eggs on top however suffered from the same malady as above. Waitresses were darling: very nice while still authentic (they liked you but you got the feeling they wouldn't care if you didn't like 'em back). Drip coffee only which I think is to their loss: who wouldn't enjoy a nice Sunday morning cappuccino while listening to great live jazz? Would certainly come back. Looking forward to visiting during an evening.
(4)
Sarah E.
Breakfast and jazz! Together here at Ryles. The breakfast is a little pricey but the food is unique and tasty and you get a lot. I'd highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Boston area.
(4)
Riley W.
Great Good food friendly staff great music I had the croissant French toast and Canadian bacon delicious,going back for Dinner tonight
(5)
Ben O.
Awesome place. Jazz brunch is a must. Incredible value at it's core; good food, good drinks, great music and an equally as great atmosphere, all for a little less than $20 per person. Considering the broad range of entertainment options in the Boston area, it's very difficult to beat. Can't say enough good things about Ryles. Commute from Quincy whenever I can to stop in. I can only imagine how awesome it must be to live in a place where Ryles is a neighborhood institution. Much love
(5)
Lady S.
Great place for spontaneous and last moment meetings with friends. Unless you want to double check and go to the website to check what kind of live music is going to be played that night. Tickets are cheap, food is good and they serve beer (full bar ) + that live music that you might be listen while talking to your friends or even dancing. Dancing like being in a club without feeling that crowed sweating people around you, you'll have enough space to shake the body without touching others. if you don't want to dance, you just can be drinking and eating great food while enjoying the panorama, in the other side of the room, of the live band playing great music and people having fun dancing. This lets the place not to be too loud. So, you won't be screaming at your friends. What else you can ask for a great night! i definitely recommend this place to adults who like to have fun dancing, but they feel too old to be dancing in a club. The local bands that played there are great, normally they have their own songs, but sometimes they sing some famous songs from famous singers. Good on weekends for some partying night, weekdays it is more a classy night out.
(4)
Cassandra F.
I came to write about a very uncomfortable experience I had with the woman collecting money at the door on Thursdays nights. I came in at 11:10PM for a night where the website advertised a $10.00 cover. She said it was $15.00 dollars and I told her, they falsely advertised on the website and I was standing with a group of people who were also in the same position. She proceeded to say, "How do you think I feel that I have to deal with YOU people," which felt racially bias. She is being paid to work the door and it was disappointing and confusing that she was seeking my sympathy in such a matter. She also said there was no one she could talk to, which felt odd. I will say, I came back two weeks later and I had the most amazing time simply because the deejay and dancers were amazing. I endured her attitude for the music because it's a part of my culture and this time I got their before 11:00PM. 1 star at the door, and 4 stars for the dance floor.
(2)
Wayne K.
Still among my favorite jazz brunches in the Boston area, period.
(5)
Ted S.
Do NOT go for the food. They have excellent live music, but the food is... the food is not... it's just not appropriate. Live music, awesome. Food, no.
(3)
Ellie W.
I remember arriving at Ryles for jazz night with two friends, only to find a band and no other patrons. Needless to say, it was not a happenin' night. I probably should've planned ahead of time and chosen a better night to go, but still, it was kind of fun listening to jazz with practically nobody else there. In a movie scenario featuring a date couple, it might be romantic, but it was just us 3 girls and a band with no audience, so 'twas a LITTLE less than romantic. Just a smidgen. Ok, it got weird after 30 minutes. The place itself has a somewhat oldschool vibe. From what I remember, the interior is red, black, and white, and the tables have little ticket stubs and illustrations of old jazz musicians on them. Not sure if they've changed it; it's been awhile. Ryle's is known for its jazz and the salsa club upstairs, which I think takes place a few times a week. I think it's worth a shot for a night of jazz if you're in the area. Just remember to pick the right night. Otherwise, Sculler's and Wally's are the top two jazz spots in Boston, where maybe you can feel a little bit of a New Orleans vibe thriving in ya.
(3)
Charlotte M.
This review is for Latin night on Friday nights only. So much fun! I love Latin music, and I have friends that do as well. We don't know how to dance to it that well, but we always find a Latin guy that will take us for a spin on the dance floor. The party doesn't get started until quite late, around 11:00pm. Most of the guys are gentlemen. I've always had a great time here, lots of nice people to meet and people watching as well! The security guys are awesome, very friendly, not robots like at most places. I have been lots of times and will be back!
(5)
Priscilla Z.
Don't know if it was crazy of me to do so. But I was visiting NYC, and this guy was going to this club to dance. So I squeeze this event into my travel plan. It took me 6 hours to reach south station in Boston, and spent 1 hour in the club to dance. This was really insane of me! The dance was OK, they had some performance, and they provided some refreshment. I can only say that there are not so many salsa dancers in Boston than in LA. But still, there are masters everywhere, even in China. I think I enjoyed 1 or 2 dance. But after all, I came because of him. So if I didn't come, I would be more regretted. That is just me....still a young girl......
(3)
Monique S.
Two of my favorite things to do in this world are listening to jazz and brunch (I really love unlimited mimosa brunch, but unfortunately they don't have that in Mass.). Ryles combines the two in a great dining experience. They were flexible with our reservations after we had to postpone a half hour. Once we sat, we were promptly served. I really like that the waiters work as a team. We had help from two waiters who made sure we got what we needed. The only thing was my friend had to wait a while for toast and whens he got it, it was burnt. The music was great. There was a trio playing when we went. They do close down relatively early, around 3:00 p.m.
(4)
Meena K.
I came here on a whim with my friend, and absolutely loved it. Music was great, food was okay. We had fun. Was a nice and relaxed atmosphere.
(5)
Emily C.
This place has great food and live music, but the service as awful! First, the food. Great Southern food. I had the BBQ chicken and collard greens, all delicious. The cornbread was great, too. Now for the service. There seemed to be only one waitress on a busy Saturday night and she was very inattentive. She accidentally charged our credit cards for another table's bill. We got it reversed just fine, but I can't say we left her a big tip.
(3)
Jill G.
I went there last Friday night for some live jazz music and drinks. The music was awesome and the drinks were delicious! It was low-key and the service was great. Definitely a good live music spot.
(4)
Hannah M.
I wanted to give 3.5 stars (I usually do). We had a lovely jazz brunch at Ryles, mostly lovely due to the company, but the food was good and the jazz was nice. I got the croissant French toast and ate it ALL. It comes with a side of fruit and your choice of meat (bacon, sausage, ham). My husband got the special omelet which he said was good, but wasn't too impressed with the sides (homefries, bagel/cream cheese). Our friends got blueberry pancakes (and ate them all) and eggs Florentine which looked yummy. Bloody Marys were decent, both virgin and non and it's so nice to eat brunch with live music in the background (it was a little loud, but we were right up in front). I'd go back for sure.
(3)
Christopher I.
Not exactly sure what it was about this place, but it wasn't anything exceptional. Seems like a good place to go dancing or to meet larger groups of friends, if that's what you're after.
(2)
Bassem S.
Sunday Jazz Brunch= super fun. Went there for a date around Christmas, where they played traditional holiday songs as well as most of the Charlie Brown Christmas score. The food was ok, a decent but classy brunch menu, as it offers a little something for everyone, but a slightly higher price that I would like. But if I think that premium goes to keeping the band around, that is a premium I am happy to pay. A bit of a hike to get to (I walked from the Harvard Square T stop in the winter), but a nice option for those who want to break up their Sunday brunch monotony. Fills in around 11, so I'd get there early to get a good seat (and avoid any waits).
(3)
Lisa I.
I want to like this place. It's unique and a somewhat different evening activity. But I've been here twice, and both times were just ok. The food is pretty bad. I think it actually comes from the S&S restaurant next door (see my review for that or I'll just give you the highlights - BLAH). The music is hit or miss - the first time was very strange, but the second time was better. The atmosphere just isn't where it should be for a jazz club.
(2)
Keoki Z.
I come to Ryles to dance salsa. Ryles is one of Boston's oldest and most famous salsa venues. It caters to LA and New York-style salsa dancers. I go out on Sunday nights. Sundays used to be a heavily New York-style crowd in the past, but over the last 2 years since I've been dancing, the crowd has been more mixed with other styles. The people will be of many different ages, ethnicities, and experience. For the most part, people are just here to dance, not to pick anyone up. The DJ is usually Rob Suave, one of Boston's most celebrated salsa DJs. Rob plays a wide variety of salsa music, including some jazzy and romantica songs. He's also been known to play some very rare and funky tracks that will put a smile on your face :) The music will be mostly salsa, with a sprinkling of cha cha, bachata, and merengue. The dance floor on Sundays is relatively small compared to a place like Havana Club on a Friday (the upstairs floor at Ryles is more comparable to Havana Club, but it's open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not Sundays). Ryles gets crowded often on Sundays, so learn to take turns using the dance floor with other people. If it's too crowded to dance, wait for the next song. Tuesday and Wednesday night salsa at Ryles are also supposed to be pretty good (especially Tuesdays), though I've only been out to Ryles on those nights once or twice. They're both on the second floor, which is a much larger dance floor.
(5)
T T.
Great place for jazz music. OK when I was there, they played some cheesy stuff that could be popular among people who are not very familiar with real jazz (Such as "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green") but still their performance was quite stunning. Of course nobody can tell everything by just one visit, but it's worth trying. And the price? You know how much you are expected to pay for jazz bars...
(4)
Jeannie C.
This is where I like to go for Sunday brunch. Grab a seat at the bar order a Bloody Mary and enjoy the Jazz. The music can range from fusion to Latin to a straight forward Jazz combo. The food is good and if your at the bar you won't feel rushed as there is always several groups of people waiting for tables.
(4)
Andres M.
I have been here twice. The first time I went upstairs to listen to some great Brazilian Bossa Nova. The second time, a few days ago, I went for Sunday brunch. I had a nice omelet with lots of veggies and potatoes. The best part was the live jazz being played. I would go back again.
(5)
elizabeth b.
For those of you who languish in the great white north pining for barbecue, the ribs are worth a try. Stop in after work, before the music starts, and cozy up to the bar with a beer and a plate of cue....mmmmm.
(3)
Jessie H.
This is one of my favorite venues in the Boston area for live music - therefor 5 stars. They should have more acts that I want to see and I would go there more.
(5)
tricia n.
i went to ryles in camridge for their salsa/swing dance lesson saturday and have to say it was a blast...if you go solo or with a date or group all will have a laugh and a great time.....no previous dance experience required....there happened to be a large amount of dance teachers there and all were open to dancing all through the night....my date and i had such a good time both of us can't wait to go back .... the teachers from the supershag dance studio were amazing you couldn't help but be sad when the night was over
(4)
Bonnie G.
I've been here twice and really enjoyed my brunch. Last time had a Peach Bellini (which was frozen-different but really refreshing), poached eggs (I think it was Eggs Oscar-a special) with asparagus, hollandaise sauce, crabmeat on potato pancakes instead of the traditional english muffin, a cup of really good fruit, bagel with cream cheese and it was pretty satisfying and tasy. Decent ambiance (although a bit dark for brunch), live jazz (a lil smooth for my taste), fast service and a diverse group of people round out this Inman sq. resturant. Why only three? While I like here, it suffers from comparison to other brunch places like Sound Bites, Centre St. Cafe, Sorellas, Trident Cafe, to name a few. The cost is a bit much for the meal and unless you are in Inman quite a bit out of the way. I like it, but I don't love it in a "omg, I wanna come here all the time" kind of way.
(3)
Lala L.
Love the atmosphere. The brunch menu is extensive, so it's a crowd pleaser. It can get pretty crowded in here tho, so do come early or on a rainy day. Parking is a pain too. The jazz band can get a little too loud.
(4)
Elena Z.
A very good jazz lounge - with occassional Brazilian jazz nights - that serves up mean barbeque fare. Southern America continues to mix with South America upstairs during salsa nights on Thursdays. Overall, a soothing spot to spend an evening with friends on a weeknight.
(4)
Michelle D.
Ryle's has something for everyone. You want Salsa? Check it out on Thursday and Sunday nights. You want live music? EVERY night is live music downstairs. Saturday nights upstairs features "Four on the Floor" a mixed Swing, Salsa and Ballroom night. A great night to get your goove on "Dancing with the Stars" style and get drinks from the bar. The food is great too. I haven't tried Mitch's BBQ yet but I will. I only rated this club 4 stars since they just started charging for WATER! boo!
(4)
Jesse N.
The ryles is a chill jazz-club that continues to have live performers of high caliber every once in a while. The food is is a variety of american and tex-mex, but that is not the reason people go there...They go there to hear great jazz. Aisde from the jazz, The Ryles also hosts latin and salsa nights on its second level that are frequented by an avid dancing crowd. This is a great way to meet new people from around the area.
(4)
Roshni R.
nice jazz club (good live music). dance classes on certain evenings. older crowd than you see in the boston club scene.
(4)
Daniel W.
The food at brunch is OK and it is hard to talk over the jazz brunch. I went with a group of 8 and we wouldn't hear other than the person sitting right next to us. If you want to sit and listen, go right on ahead!
(2)
Suz G.
Do you want to sit right down for brunch? Do you want to linger over bloody's and mimosa's and not feel rushed out the door? Do you want to be serenaded by some cheesy, yet enjoyable, jazz while you're at it? Need a safe place to bring Mom? If you say yes to any of these questions, Ryles is your place! It may not be the best brunch I've ever tasted, but it's comfortable, friendly, and the service is great. My bloody was so strong I nearly stumbled out the door, but hey, it's Sunday, so why not!
(3)
Paulina R.
I started coming to Ryle's back in the '90s when it was the only place to go latin dancing. I keep coming because I can count on it to deliver. An ever-changing roster of DJs keeps the music lively and danceable. Some nights it seems like everybody is there and others it is empty, but you can count on some regulars to always be there ready to take you on the floor if you want to dance. And this is a place to dance, eat, drink, and be merry with friends. It is not a good place if you're looking to meet people. If someone approaches you it is to dance, or to get you to sign up for dancing lessons, and, as long as you're good with that, you will have a good time. I love it. They are open late which makes it a great place to go at the end of the night. Their food has a southern flare and if you've been dieting and dancing all day they have GREAT cajun fries. The drinks are not cheap but definitely not expensive. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Downstairs they have a revolving set of bands usually playing a lively jazz but occasionally a mellow or cruisey jazz.
(3)
Jimmy H.
I came here on Saturday for the first time. What a fun time it was. DJ strictly alternated salsa and swing tune. It was even fun to look at it how the dimension changed drastically in split moment. It's always fun to participate, but it was still fun to watch it.
(4)
Rick V.
I went here for Sunday Brunch and enjoyed the music very much. Unfortunately, my food was just ok. I had a breakfast sandwich which was good, but that is pretty hard to mess up. I was still hungry so I ordered the cinnamon bun. I was the worst looking cinnamon bun I have ever seen: it was flat, had no icing and was covered in raisins. Then I tasted it.... It was horrible. Not only was it dry, but I didn't taste any cinnamon either. The atmosphere was nice though; it was comfortable and entertaining. Similarly, the service was good. If you do go to the jazz brunch, I recommend that you get there fairly early as the place filled up very fast. With that said, I can't say that I recommend the food as it seemed to be very hit or miss.
(3)
Jessica T.
I came to this place for a group outing and had no idea what I was getting myself to. As soon as I opened the door, the sound of the salsa music, the men twirling women around, and the heat in the room I felt like I was in Havana! This place is amazing ! I felt intimidated at first with the advanced dancers but everyone seemed very nice. They taught me new steps and did not seem mean. I plan to come back to take lessons. I love to dance but Boston has little to offer so I'm glad I found this place
(5)
Tiffany L.
This place is so. freaking. awesome. My gay bestie and I used to come here religiously every Wednesday around 9ish for beginning salsa dancing classes. In my experience, Wednesday nights were not crowded at all, which was the most awesome thing in the world, becuase let's be honest...who doesn't like private lessons for 10 bucks?! After lessons ended around 10, more "regulars" would come. It would get pleasantly crowded - but not overly crowded where you felt like you were bumping into people everytime you turned. Not to mention, the margaritas were fantastic. And trust me - as a beginner salsa dancer surrounded by a room full of experienced dancers, you definitely need a little liquid courage. If you are a beginner salsa dancer with a partner looking for a good night out, this is the place to be. After a month of a few Wednesday lessons, we were definitely getting our groove on...
(5)
Sarah Y.
A few friends and I went to Ryles on a Thursday night, the 18+ night (since not all of us are 21 yet). We had no idea what to expect. Right away my friends and I booked it to the unexpected free table of food, then those of us who were 21 ordered some well-priced, well-made drinks. The music was fitting for the type of club, and the DJ took requests. My only experience dancing salsa is at college parties with my friends who grew up in Latin cultures where dancing was just something you learned to do, so I was amazed at seeing the clearly experienced dancers at Ryles who've taken lessons. It was a fun time because I was with my friends and we had finally found somewhere in Boston to go salsa dancing (not to mention for only $5 entrance fee!), but I'm not sure I would go with only girl friends and I definitely wouldn't go by myself. The crowd at Ryles was mostly 30+, and a few of the guys who asked my friend and I to dance looked old enough to be my dad. For the more mature crowd, however, this would be a great place to regularly go! Note: It says they close at 1am, but the two times I've been here, they've stopped the music before 12:30am, and the crowd thins out around or before midnight.
(3)
Ali E.
Lets summarize: Music: Great, have some awesome nights & few okay nights Food: Not the best food around but it is decent Service: Good Price: Excellent, you are paying very little for a night out for dinner & live music... definitely worth the price Overall: Will go back there again, & suggest it to any one who want to listen to good music while eating for a reasonable price.
(4)
Trina M.
I love this place. This was one of our stops while in Boston and the jazz doesn't get any better! The brunch is out of sight! Mimosa's make you speechless. I will be back Ryles.
(5)
Eva K.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The conversation was excellent, the food was good, but oh, the service. The service. A waiter who isn't aware that by the time brunch rolls around his patrons are under-caffeinated and possibly hung over, does not have the right to call himself a waiter. And a waiter who takes 10 minutes to bring coffee is, well, words fail. And afterwards, where is the check, prey tell? Oh look, it's our waiter, hanging out in the corner watching the game on TV. It's really a pity, since this is a decent brunch, but given the fact that there are at least 3 other brunch options within 100 yards of Ryles, next time, I'll be going elsewhere.
(2)
Emily P.
We have been to Ryles twice now, in the hopes that our first visit was a fluke... but it seems that it is just consistently bad. The Service: Atrocious. The actual waiter was not terrible, but we were there on a relatively slow night, and the entire staff was sitting around, eating, talking (make that yelling) about how much they hate their customers - with specific examples, and just generally being loud and obnoxious. They kept giving glares over their shoulders at the diners, and saying lewd things into the microphone, while we just tried to enjoy our meals. These were not teenage employees though, they were all adults -- just acting like children. It was an extremely uncomfortable dining experience. The Food: The food is simply not that good. Ribs that are no where near "falling off the bone", hushpuppies so hard that you could use them as weapons, heavily over-salted seafood.... it's all just a little "blah". Overall, I would not recommend Ryle's. There are plenty of other great barbeque joints in Cambridge.
(1)
Kerry M.
Salsa night wasn't as latin music focused as I would have expected. I love seeing bands with the big band sound downstairs. Really nice music venue.
(4)
Kate S.
I went to a really fun show here--the audience was almost all African-American people--they were so much fun. Then, I walked by at night the next day, and it was all old white people. But I digress. Drink service was good and the music/crowd even better!
(4)
Jessica H.
I really enjoy Ryles. I have been here on several occasions and have had fun each time. Although my husband and I don't frequent the brunch by ourselves, it is a GREAT place to bring people from out of town. Their brunch menu has some unique items and has always been good. Having the live music for brunch makes the whole experience memorable. Never have had dinner here, but have been for other shows and dancing and had a great time. Service is not top notch, but otherwise a great place!
(4)
Binh L.
The drinks and dance atmosphere is awesome, but the food leaves a lot to be desired for. I've tried the jerk chicken and all those other entrees and nothing impresses me. You know what does impress me though? Their eggs benedict. Everything is so fresh, huge portions, live music, and I just feel like I need to play tennis shortly afterward at the country club. It's delicious. They have it spinach or oscar style if you don't like it with canadian ham like I do. Some come here to remember. Some come here to forget. Whether you're dancing or drinking. However, if you came home with a winner.. come back the next morning for breakfast here.
(3)
Natalia V.
I've been to Ryles twice for brunch and each time was really good - I'm becoming a fan! It has live Jazz and has some yummy food on Sundays, I love how as soon as you arrive, they immediately bring out the coffee ready to serve for you, if you want. The staff is attentive and friendly. I'll be coming back sometime soon!
(4)
Julie T.
I used to always come here on the weekends when they would play good music and serve up good food and it was a great place to hang out and show off any bit of Latin that you somehow aquired in your, well, at least in my case, Asian self. They have great tasting buffalo wings and the DJs usually plays good music until I started going so often that I noticed that they were playing the exact same songs every single week with little variety. It didn't help that certain people would remember my face and start asking me to dance every week and I'd have to say yes to be nice, but secretly cry inside because I knew that deep down, they always danced off beat. So I stopped going.
(4)
Shannon B.
So I was basically thrilled to find a sunday jazz brunch in Cambridge that isn't mobbed with hipsters,cost a million dollars, or is hard to get to. In a few words, this place was a BUST. Our waiter, Werner, was completely ignorant to what it means to be a waiter. My friends and I get to the brunch when there was barely anyone else in the restaurant, yet we had to wait 10 minutes for anyone to notice us. Werner was not apologetic about taking his sweet time, and throughout the hour we were there, he proceeded to have a snotty attitude and did nothing to ensure that we were having a pleasant experience- checking on how the food was, bringing refills, etc. The best part: we were waiting about 15 minutes after we were done for Werner to notice us and give us our check- he then proceeded to bring it over and tell us we had to leave as they were closing. How incredibly rude! Also, the jazz was sub par. Take your money elsewhere!
(2)
John S.
The Sunday Jazz Brunch at Ryles is an institution that everyone in Cambridge and Somerville should experience at least once. The breakfast/brunch menu of the S&S Deli (which is quite tasty) is served accompanied by invariably excellent jazz. The patrons vary from hip couples to families to groups out for special occasions, and the place generally fills every week. Thankfully, you can make reservations online months in advance and even showing up the day of can yield a table with minimal wait time. Despite the crowds, the service is good and the noise is never a problem (folks realize they're in the presence of some great music). It is a wonderful Sunday afternoon activity, and will make you feel cool the second you walk in.
(4)
Caitlin G.
This was a really nice experience. We came here for the jazz brunch on New Year's Day and had a good time. The music was great and the atmosphere nice and relaxed. The woman singing was lovely, and during intermission came over to all the tables to personally chat with all the patrons. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure that we were never low on coffee or water. I ordered the Inman Omelette, which is diced ham, mushrooms, onions and peppers, and American cheese. It was good, but the cheese wasn't melted all the way so that was kind of gross. It came with a bagel and cream cheese, plus a little fruit cup (yum!) and home fries, which were mealy and mushy without any crispiness to them (I like my home fries well done). The only drawbacks to the meal itself were the cheese and the potatoes, everything else was tasty. And it's a lot of food for $10.95! I'll definitely be back. Love love loved the music :0)
(4)
Kirsten T.
My siblings and I took my blind uncle John out for his 66 bday at Ryles last night. We were disappointed with quite a few aspects of the evening. 1. The website said the "jazz band" would start at 8:30, yet the tripped out electronic music (which I would enjoy, but not my uncle) didn't get going until 9:30 or closer to 10pm. 2. Service was horrible. Our waiter came to greet us and get our first round which took waaayyyy too long, seeming that we were one of three tables in the club. He checked on us ONCE after that. We were going to the bar for the next few rounds and my brother had to stand up and walk over to the stairs (where the waiter was sitting) to order food. I must say, the woman at the front door had a nice smile and was happy to see us. A+ for her. F or the waiter who seemed not to care. 3. Food. No. The cheese fries were covered in cheap tasteless cheese, the "spicy" shrimp were bland and the wings were just meh. Overall, very underwhelming. Will not be returning. This place needs some serious management control. I must say, we left before the band played two songs and went to Wally's on Mass Ave...that place saved our night!!
(2)
Hisham K.
My best friend is a Puerto Rican stud. His girlfriend is an Irish/American white girl. Where could they possibly go to dance his native salsa and her beloved swing all at the same time, without stepping on any toes (literally)? Why, Ryles of course! There are basically two venues in the same place. The ground floor is the jazz club, where a live jazz troupe entertains patrons seated at tables, sipping on all sorts of wines and cocktails; the upstairs dance hall is where the dancing takes place. The upstairs bar is smaller than the downstairs, and be forewarned - seating is tight and they won't let you bring your drink on the dance floor (and for good reason - one drink spill can lead to a 4-person pile-up). We paid $15 at the entrance, but it's cool because there's a 30 - 45 minute swing AND salsa lesson that starts at around 8:30 or 9. (Call and check.) The guy who does the teaching is very energetic and has a sarcastic sense of humor, and is apparently a former bouncer. I mean, come on - if THIS guy can learn to swing and salsa, so can I. He gave us some easy moves to start off with, and within an hour we were dancing our little hearts out. The dance floor is a bit awkward in that there are three or four pillars smack dab in the middle of the dance floor, so if you're not careful you might spin your partner and check her up against a pillar. I think it's pretty safe to assume she won't enjoy that. Trust me, I would know. With the bouncer-turned-dancer/DJ at the helm, we danced to salsa tunes, swing numbers, and even a few polkas. Oh, and there was some tango as well for those who requested it. I haven't tried the food here, so I can't say anything about that. However the bathroom is clean, the drinks are strong, and the vibe is awesome. I think this place is great. A word of caution to those who tend to run late - if you arrive during or after the lesson, you still pay $15.
(4)
Tina C.
I came here with my former love during our Boston weekend getaway in a past life. We wanted to experience Boston's jazz club/lounge. The food is quite expensive for a early jazz dinner at 5pm on a Saturday night. Although it was not quite busy for a Saturday evening which there were no live performance at that time. Yet I felt the vibe of the jazz lounge as there was much Bostonian flair combined with jazz enthausists. A full bar indeed well stocked with cocktails and beer that will enable patron spirits to be uplifted.
(4)
Danielle W.
We had our wedding reception here for a very reasonable price. The owners, Gary and Aimee, were very helpful on the night of the wedding and kept everything running smoothly. The only problem is that we had to use the food from the S&S. Now, I like their food, but it's not exactly what I was wanting for my wedding. But it was fine enough. And, the price was very reasonable! We were able to bring in our own dj, but they would've helped us get one of their regular bands for a good price. Anyway, it was a great experience and the vibe of the place was perfect for my wedding.
(4)
Cris E.
This review is for the Jazz brunch only. I absolutely adore it. Food is delicious, wonderful hard working staff and great jazz musicians. It's a treat!
(5)
Paul S.
Best night for salsa dancing is on Tuesday nights. I've been teaching the beginners class there for over a year now. :) Say hello!
(5)
Jasmine T.
I went to a show here a year or so ago. It was a really great location and everyone was really friendly (I had to take pictures and interview someone for a class I was taking). It was easy enough to get too with a car but I wouldn't know how to get there without one. The food and drinks were both really good and filling. Perfect start to the night.
(3)
Nora F.
Came here on a Friday night and it was very empty. Only a few couples dancing. I'd heard great things about this place, but Ryles didn't quite live up to the hype. I'm sticking to Habana Club.
(1)
Michael O.
Okay, As I strolled into Ryles last Saturday night I was feeling pretty good. I had taken a nice nap in the afternoon, and was happy and ready to hear some good blues. And as many people do who like live music, I walked in and moved towards the stage to get a good look at the band before picking a table. But after taking no more than two steps away from the bar, I see a waiter flying towards me, waving his hands frantically, and aggressively demanding that I get out of his way. Nice introduction... There was absolutely no cause for this unprovoked incident. I was apparently detouring his path towards the register so he could ring in some "nachos for table 11". Now this kind of behavior might be tolerable if the place was bumping. But it was DEAD. There were two waiters on staff for 40 people at a joint that serves drinks and finger food. Maybe the dude was having a bad night, but that's completely irrelevant. I have bad days, and I have had bad days as a server. But I never take it out on my customer. So after having a few "cordial" words with this fellow, I asked to sit in the other waiter's section (a really nice and attentive fellow, by the way). After that, all was copacetic. The music was good (Tokyo Tramps...blues trio w/ a really good guitarist), the Stella Artois was crisp and hoppy, and the nachos were solid. I couldn't, though, shake the behavior of this jerk. Call me old fashioned, but customer service means a lot to me. Never going back unless I know the band.
(2)
Jef S.
Ryles is just ok. The club's an eclectic mix of folks, young and old, from all walks of life. People watching between setbreaks is always interesting. The staff is ok, but the bartenders are only somewhat attentive You'll wait a bit for drinks, especially during the show. I've only eaten here once for the jazz brunch and it was just diner food struggling to be contemporary cuisine. (Sorry, but in my book you can't just dump salsa on eggs, garnish with a sprig of cilantro, and call it tex mex). Head over to the Middle East for Sunday breakfast instead. However, upon reading other reviews, folks seemed to like what they ate, so maybe it was just a bad choice of entree on my part. No, the reason why you come to Ryles is for the music. This club has been consistently able to draw great jazz acts over the years. They never disappoint on the main stage. I'm not much of a dancer, so I can't speak to the upstairs swing hall; however, I've been told it's legendary too. Sure, you could go across town to Wally's, but Ryles is a different, more mellow type of jazz high. Worth it, but beware of crappy street parking and *meh* food.
(3)
Rebecca K.
Let me start by clarifying that this is only in terms of the jazz brunch - I haven't been here other times, so it may be different. I came for Sunday jazz brunch and was very excited. I'd heard great things and I love both jazz and brunch - what could be better? Needless to say, I will not be returning. First, the jazz was not great. Perhaps I'm being too picky (I am accustomed to pretty good live jazz), but what seemed to be a quaint family band just wasn't cutting it for me. I was ready to be forgiving, but it was rather irksome that the mediocre jazz was a bit too loud to be able to maintain an easy conversation. Enough about the music, though, right? What about the food? The food was very well priced. $7.95 for a bagel and a healthy serving of lox and $5.95 for a delicious strawberry mimosa is quite a steal in this city. Also, once we ordered, it did come out very quickly. Unfortunately, that is where the nice things I can say about this place end. I've never had such bad service at a place that, in appearances, seems so classy. The waiter basically ignored us the entire time. We had to ask for refills on water and coffee. He also never came by to see if we wanted another drink or to ask if the food was okay. Additionally, it took forever to get our check. Even though the menu clearly said that brunch lasted from 10-3pm, the staff basically started closing up around us, breaking down tables, moving chairs, etc. when it was only a bit after 2. I like my brunch to be un-rushed and it was definitely not a good feeling to feel like I was being pushed out of a restaurant - before the check had even been delivered to the table! One of the girls in my party told me that the menu was exactly the same as S&S deli. I know they don't offer "jazz," but if the food is served the same and priced the same, I'd stick with them for a brunch place.
(1)
Ali E.
I'm a huge fan of jazz brunches in general, and of the Ryles jazz brunch in particular. The music was fabulous. My only complaint was that it was a little loud, so we all ended up yelling across the table at each other a bit, but such is life. Patricia Adams, the vocalist who performs the first sunday of every month, is amazing. I kind of want to be her. You get a ridiculous amount of food for your money - I ordered quiche and got a slice the size of my head, plus home fries, fruit AND a (poppyseed, hooray!) bagel and cream cheese, all for 8$. The bellinis, too, were huge and yummy. Ryles rocks my world.
(5)
Joseph S.
When I used to live in Boston, this was my favorite place to go. Now that was some time ago (1999-2001), but I'd be surprised if a place like Ryles ever changed. A place like Ryles is built on the archetypal fact it's immune from the changing tastes around it. It simply is in spite of... I loved the atmosphere so much at Ryles. It's what I always wanted a jazz club to be. I loved it so much, I write a short story about it for a creative writing class back in 2007. Here it goes: Temptation is her name. And aptly, temptation is her game. She possesses the most beautiful of visages and the most divisive of scents. Her allure knows no bounds except the length of the thin black cocktail dress that hugs her like a dress should. Like I should... Temptation, my obsession, is the hostess at my favorite jazz club and the object of my affections. She's my weekly adrenaline shot via scent and sight. She speeds my thoughts and turns me about until I'm completely disoriented. Every Tuesday, somewhere from the cab to the door, I lose my ability to comprehend simple conversation. When I step in front of her, I lose all control of language as my senses are overwhelmed with Temptation. I stand mute waiting for her smile right before she asks, "How many this evening sir?" And appropriately I always say, "Just one tonight ma'am," as if it would ever be different. 95 percent of the reason I come to this place is to gaze at Temptation; how could I do so effectively with a guest? The other 5 percent, of course, is the music. Ryles' Jazz Club hosts some of the best musicians in the world, yet they represent only 5 percent of the reason for my regular attendance. Aren't I a musician? Shouldn't it be the other way around? But for those that appreciate both women and music, the two in concert is a devilish desert. To watch Temptation work to the whisk of the snare and the tap of the hat is a fully realized rhythm. Acid Jazz is a haphazard tune that seems completely out of focus, but for one bridge everything comes together and pushes a tingle down your spine. In the same way, the jazz at Ryles' seems to be out of sync with her until, unpredictably during the night, she moves exactly with the beat. Life, beauty, music and Temptation mixing perfectly soothe my soul to the brink of calm. But while my soul seems fully sated, my heart wanes for sustenance. As I smile, thanking whomever for this vision of Temptation painted on a perfect aural canvas, my heart jumps from my chest stretching for her. The calm waters of my eyes plug the tempest behind them. The very vision that releases the days' tension, flexes my heart with longing. Yet I do nothing. To be Temptation is not to satiate, it's only to carry to the brink of satisfaction. Past that lies a territory uncharted but hypothesized by my imagination. If I was to be with Temptation, what would I call her? For once attained she would cease to be Temptation...and become something else.
(5)
Emma S.
Fantastic brunch. Huge portions, tasty, and rich and definitely not diet-friendly! Our waiter was sweet, if a bit slow. Live Jazz is a wonderful touch, and really adds class to the experience. My only complaint was that the jazz group took a VERY long break as soon as we sat down. However, I imagine that was a fluke, and I can't wait to go back to Ryles soon
(4)
Andrew C.
I posted a review of our New Years Eve experience at Ryles and it mysteriously vanished from there, so I'm re-posting. We were profoundly disappointed by our experience at Ryles on NYE. For starters, they had a package for the evening that included multiple rounds of hors d'oeurves. However, there were several that never reached our table. At one point, we pointed this out to our otherwise absent waiter, who went to the kitchen and brought us out instead a second plate of shrimp (this despite the fact we had earlier told him we couldn't eat shrimp). When we went to the host at the door and communicated our concerns about the food, his only response was "you need to talk to the manager". He made NO effort to get the manager for us or to point out who that person was. In addition, our waiter was awful. For the most part, he ignored our table most of the night. At one point, we had to go to the bar to get our own drinks because it had been so long since our waiter even came to check on us. The band they had for the evening, Soul City, was fabulous. They're a great dance band. But the dance floor Ryles provided was so small, there was hardly any room to dance. Ryles actually put tables on the dance floor.
(2)
Amanda G.
OMG Best Salsa ever. Literally, one of my favorite places ever. Sunday night salsa is hotter than hot. There are so many people packed into the tiny space, there are dancers all over the rug. DJ is friendliest guy ever. Must be on something...happy. Salsa, bachata, merengue tunes are solid. Intro class for beginners early on. Crowd is stylin' and the "rule" here is new partners nearly every dance so good dancers will even ask beginners. Hey, that's how i learn! Bartender is a bit solemn, but tip him right and he'll treat you with respect. Jazz brunch is obviously amazing. And although i've never been, there are musicians playing all week. Come to my hood over here! Ryles is fantastic.
(5)
Francisco A.
There is nothing bad about this place... Downstairs: Live music every day of the week. Good music, not Journey covers (nothing wrong with those). Upstairs: Salsa and Swing lessons and dancing all night for $15 bucks... Come on, its just awesome!
(5)
Meena V.
Sunday Jazz brunch: This is good for occasions when you want a little something more than S&S of your weekend brunch affair. The food was all I could ask for, and the artists they invite tend to vary, and be generally good -- although I always feel bad and a little awkward for musicians at places like this, since people tend to focus more on their food and conversations than on the music itself. Tuesday night salsa: Now this is what I REALLY like about this place! They tend to have multiple instructors and cycle them, but the woman teaching this Fall/Winter is awesome! She's great at helping people of all skill levels feel comfortable, and conducting a lesson that's engaging for everyone. I'd especially recommend Tuesdays here for beginners. And bonus! The current instructor here is also only feminist salsa teacher I've ever met: "choreographer" and "dancer" instead of "leader" and "follower"!
(4)
Kristina D.
Just went to Ryles with my new roommate and awesome friend who drove 9 hours to help me move. The Bavarian french toast was delightful--perfectly eggy and filled with cream cheese and jam. I liked the tiny syrup glass that accompanied it. I'm not one for excessive syrup, so being able to control the amount in an environmentally friendly way made me happy. Accompanying the french toast were a cup of fruit and four strips of fairly decent bacon. I washed it down with a peach bellini, which was fair to middling. I would have preferred a bloody mary or a strawberry mimosa--neither of which would have been excessively sweet. Roommate got Bavarian french toast with sausage (those sausage links looked pretty good and almost made me doubt my bacon). Friend got the English omelet (which also came with fruit, home fries, and a bagel--which she swapped out for toast). The jazz was a soothing accompaniment to the lovely brunch and people-watching. As others have said, the crowd is an interesting mix--much more diverse than that of a brunch place in a typical college town.
(3)
Armando C.
This place is hard to review, because there are 3 categories: food, live music, and the small dance club upstairs. I don't think the food there is that great. I've been there for dinner and brunch, and thought it was boring and overpriced. The music is hit or miss, like most live music places. But overall, I like the live music atmosphere. They do get good bands, and when the music is dance-able, there's a space to do so. The club upstairs is cool. They have latin night most nights, and the crowd & music give it a good atmosphere for when I have the urge to dance salsa but don't feel like going downtown to a big club. Often the music doesn't have enough variety for my taste, but that's ok. Many times, when I've gotten the urge, I just hopped in my car and went to Ryles for a couple of hours of dancing before going home to go to bed for work the next day. That's what city life is supposed to be about, right?
(4)
Victor B.
Thursday night salsa review I came here for an alternate to other places for Thursday night salsa. I got there about 10:45pm and there were hardly 15 people in the entire second floor salsa place. Seemed like most of them were couples, so if you were a cool single guy looking to have fun, you're mostly out of luck. Most people left around midnight. On the other hand, there's no cover so I guess you get what you pay for. The music was excellent with salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. There were a 2-3 really good dancers so at I learned something from watching them.
(2)
Jennifer N.
Sunday brunch review: This is the same as eating at S&S (isn't the menu virtually identical?) with the added benefit of nice music and a less diner-ish atmosphere. Sunday brunch at Ryles is often a bit chaotic, and always bustling, and they serve enormous portions of just-above-mediocre eggs, bagels, fruit cups, quiches, etc. Word to the wise- the quiche portions could serve at least two, and I'm certain contain all the nutrition one needs for three days, possibly more.
(3)
Julie R.
Came here to see a band at the first floor jazz club on a Saturday night. The place wasn't the busy when we got in then quickly filled up around 10pm. The band advertised the show starting at 9 but did not take the stage till 10pm. We had rushed from our dinner to make it on time but ended up waiting almost an hour for music. There was an opening singer and the sound of the mic was screeching at points. It was probably a fluke on the part of the sound crew not the acoustics of the place. However when the band finally got going it was worth the wait. We had had dinner elsewhere so just got dessert and drinks. The mixed drinks are reasonably priced at $6 but are tiny. Martinis are $8 and are in tiny glasses also. The service was very slow. As the place got full our server was all over the place and we to wave him down to get more drinks. We ordered a chess pie dessert I thought was good. Around 11pm they ran out of Stella then it took another while for another beer to come over. The seats themselves were horrible. If you are going to be sitting down for a few hours the seats should at least be comfortable. They were hard as a rock with a paper thin cushion. We didn't even stay till the end of the show cause it was so uncomfortable. I did like the jazz club atmosphere. I would go back to see some random jazz but probably not for a long show.
(3)
Q S.
Came here on a busy Sunday morning. I did really enjoy the jazz, but the food was not impressive. I ordered the "eggs oscar" - a special with two poached eggs on top of potato and crab meat pancakes and asparagus, with holladaise sauce. Sounds good on the menu, didn't taste all that awesome when in front of me. First, I like my poached egg to have running yolks, and the eggs they gave me were hard - and it seems like the entire thing was sitting under a heat lamp for awhile. The pancakes were overcooked, and the asparagus as overcooked and shriveled on my plate under the eggs and potato/crab meat pancakes. One of the other people at my table ordered the special french toast which was suppose to come with cream cheese and jelly inside the toast, but she was disappointed when it came because it just seemed like they made a cream cheese and jelly sandwich and then dipped it in egg. Wasn't exactly what she was expecting. The service was mediocre. Our waiter didn't come to our table to ask us about the food and had to be reminded for a couple of things. I don't think I would come here again. If I did, it would only be for the music.
(2)
Marcos R.
As for Ryles the dance hall, I can say this place has an intimate atmosphere, a great house DJ, excellent dancers, mature people, a well stocked bar (which is actually not that necessary, since most serious dancers don't drink alcoholic beverages while doing their thing). You can go to Ryles every day of the week except for Mondays (when it is closed) and Fridays (where it is more suited for grinding purposes, as the music is more geared towards reggaeton). I still go on Fridays, but I guess most readers will be interested in long-distance dancing :P. There's no cover to pay on Wednesdays, and still this doesn't make the experience any less valuable. Saturdays are great if you want to also dance swing and are feeling more ballroomish. Even though I long for the day where bachata will be played more often, I think Ryles is being run very well. I've made many friends there and I will continue to do so. I've been to the Sunday Jazz Brunch once and absolutely loved it. The food was delicious. I went with my siblings and my mother who were visiting me in Cambridge for the first time and they commended me for my selection. Excellent music and good food. Ryles is my favorite place in Cambridge.
(5)
Kara S.
I went to Ryles last night with friends to see my neighbor's cover band play. The space was nice for a small show, and it was a decent cover (10 bucks) for a show like that. I already had dinner, so I didn't eat much, but what I had was phenomenal. The hushpuppies were ridiculously flavorful, so much so that I didn't even need anything to dip them in. And the sweet potato fries were equally yummy. The service, on the other hand, was atrocious! The waiter took forever to come to our table to take our orders, the food arrived before our beer/wine, and they would never have brought me my delicious hushpuppies if my friend didn't remind the waiter that I ordered them. And I drank one beer and could have easily had another, but the waiter never came back to check on us/take additional orders. It makes me wonder how much money they are losing because of it. I imagine my friends would have had more wine too, if asked. But alas, we weren't. So sad when really good food is overshadowed by poor service.
(3)
Isabel P.
The service was so terrible it actually prompted me to write my first review. I tried to go to Ryles for their Sunday Jazz Brunch this morning and was incredibly disappointed by the service. I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant that blatantly ignored its customers! When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to seat us. We waited for several minutes and no one there acknowledged our presence (not even eye contact to indicate that someone would be with us shortly). After about 6 minutes I finally went up to a few servers who were near the cash register/bar and asked if someone might be able to seat us. One of them mumbled something about the hostess not being there. Not particularly helpful. When the hostess finally did show up to seat us, she didn't apologize for the delay (or even look at us). Once we were seated, we waited another 7 or 8 minutes and no one came to get our drink orders. After about 10 minutes with no server, I decided to run next door to the City Girl Cafe to see if they were still serving brunch. I was greeted by a friendly woman who said that brunch was about to end, but that she could squeeze us in. I went back to Ryles. Still no sign of a server. So we relocated to City Girl Cafe and had an amazing brunch. The food was incredible and it felt nice to be treated as a human being. I understand that sometimes restaurants are understaffed or might be having a difficult/busy morning, but if someone had actually acknowledged our presence and said they were running behind, we would have been understanding and more than willing to wait. After that experience, I don't have much interest in making a second attempt to see if there food is better than their service. If you have to wait twenty minutes to even be noticed, what's the point?
(1)
Hannah L.
yay boston for having a nice chill jazz brunch! the vibe in there is awesome, and quite the food selection for brunch. prices are standard, and you are not too squished in the tables! i would have given 5 stars because the jazz was really chill, but there were only 2 waiters for the entire place. 2!!! they were extremely busy....and definitely made loooots of tip money. but it took a while to get our orders taken. also the food is nothing special. but the ambiance and jazz brunch thing make it a unique and chill place to come. i called in at 11:45 for a ressie for 12:30 for 2, and got it. yay! brunch for 2 is the way to go.
(4)
Layla P.
Had the bavarian french toast which is very similar to french toast that my boyfriend makes, it's two pieces of bread with jam and cream cheese in the middle, then grilled to perfection. Also tried the pumpkin spice nut pancakes which were flavorful and moist. The hostess was not too friendly, but did her job and our waiter was fabulous. We also tried the strawberry bellini and strawberry mimosa, both were good sized drinks for 5.50 and really started my morning off well. The jazz band was nice background music and the older lady singer was so cute with her big white sparkly top, she even walked around the room and sang. Overall, a good experience and their brunch menu has so many good looking things on it, it will definitely take many more trips to try them all. We made a reservation online but when we got there (1PM) it didn't seem like there would have been much of a wait anyway. But if you know you're going, you might as well make the reservation to be safe :)
(4)
Meghan S.
BRUNCH, BRUNCH, BRUNCH!! Everything was delicious; eggs were perfect and the price was right. I don't even enjoy bloody mary's, but a sip of my friends made me reconsider that long held opinion. The jazz was sometimes a bit loud, but hell it's live music at brunch.
(4)
Andrew R.
I went to Ryles last Friday night for the first time and had a blast! Two friends and I arrived a bit early for the salsa club upstairs and were offered a table in the downstairs jazz bar until the upstairs club opened. I have never enjoyed a jazz bar this much. The air was clear, the crowd was composed and upbeat, and the live music was great. A bunch of people were dancing to the music, performed by a large band of 9 or 10 people featuring a female and a male vocalist, both of whom were very skilled singers, as well as five-piece horn section, keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. One of the waiters honestly seemed like he was on crack, but even he wasn't obnoxious or anything. Anyway, once the club upstairs opened, we headed up there. I was amazed at how the same venue had an authentic jazz scene downstairs and a passionate hispanic dancefloor upstairs. My girlfriend is much better than I am at salsa and such, but I held my own and enjoyed it. Some of the people there could really dance! There were definitely some sketchy onlooker types lining the edge of the dancefloor, especially as the night went on, but the mood stayed pretty light. The DJ varied up the music styles and had the place moving. I was really impressed with Ryles and am looking forward to going back!
(5)
Thuy Tien L.
How awesome is jazz brunch? Pretty Awesome, I'd have to say. But I like brunch AND I like jazz independently, so it seems inevitable that I would be happy when the two are combined. Brunch food is kind of hard to get wrong (who can't make omelets and pancakes?), but they really do it right. I approve. It's also a pretty large amount of food, for the ~$9 price tag--good for hangovers, which many of my friends had. The loud live jazz can get in the way of conversations, especially if your group is a little larger and spread out across several of the small round tables that Ryles offers, but it'll probably be perfect for filling in awkward silences on a first date. Endless coffee refills for 1.99 makes my caffeine-holic heart sing. Word of warning: the Irish coffee is a kick in the face. Much more Irish than coffee. Just so you know. The non-brunch jazz here is pretty good too, and there's a good variety. I'm really curious about the bbq. I'll be sure to update this if I ever try it.
(5)
Kai P.
Come for the music - leave the food. It was my first time at Ryles and I found the restaurant and bar areas a little too "Benningans" generic. The place doesn't really have the typical Jazz-club vibe but I know enough people who like it to give the venue a second chance. The menu is all about BBQ and the food we got was bar-food grade at best. For my money, I'd go on a trip to Redbones first before coming here. I'm not easily disgusted, but I found a hair on my fries - the curly kind (not the fries, the hair) and showed it to the waiter who came back with the same plate that had my half-eaten chicken on it but with a handful of new fries. No thanks. Drinks were so-so. Stingy on the booze and the dirty martini my buddy had was really all vodka with traces of olive juice and a few shriveled olives. The girly drinks seemed alright, but overpriced. Next time I go, I'll eat elsewhere and get a few stiff cocktails in me before going.
(3)
Rebecca H.
A group of us went to Ryles with the notion that we would class-it-up for the evening. I donned a very cool turtleneck tunic, leather belt and pumps, attempting to look every bit the unpretentious glamazon that I sometimes pretend I can feign. We paid the ten dollar cover (the underpaid young professional in me silently balked at this) and moseyed on up to the bar. The bartender, a rather large sweaty man about two days from retirement, was decidedly unattentive and slow. He also had the worst etiquette I've seen in a long time (aka he would man-handle the drinks and put his palms-- please reference previous mention of sweatiness-- all over the tops of the glasses. Ick). But at the same time, I sympathized because it's pretty crummy to make one guy service an entire busy bar. The music was incredible. The band was on fire! They even performed an encore, which made my night. I would rate this place five stars if it were based on the music alone. Unfortunately, the clientele knocks it down a bit... Since I am an unsatiable people-watcher, this place definitely kept me entertained. Eccentric, older gentlemen mixed with puffy vest-clad sorostitutes. Red-lipped sirens hung on the arms of tattooed Eddie Veder look-alikes. However entertaining this was at first, as more booze was added to the mix, the sorostitues decided that their nether regions had not yet received enough "play." Thus, as the saxophone wailed, commenced an all out grope-and-grind fest. Really people? Really? Grinding to jazz? Seriously? It was about that time that we decided to finish up our mound of (delicious!) nachos and call it a night.
(3)
Lance M.
Ryles have been my home for 28 years. I started playing there with the Herman Johnson Band since then, I played with The Billy Thompson Band, and my own. Ryles changed over to a BBQ restaurant. It may not be the best, but it's really good. I love the crab cakes. They don't really feed the musicians, but they have a musician's menu which is discounted. The staff is good I hope the music is good , because chances are you'll be listening to me.The manager at the bar is really cool and this is a fun hang. In all of my years there, I've seen many people have a good time at Ryles !! So go there and if you don't see me, ask about the Lance Martin Band :)
(4)
Nick B.
I ended up at Ryles because all of the other jazz places in Boston where sold out. The party I was with wasn't entirely impressed with the overall dining experience. The wait service was a combination of over bearing which later transition to no service. The music, acoustics, venue and location were good though. I would go back and give it another chance.
(3)
Nora G.
I like potatoes served to me when i feel gross after corroding my stomach with booze. I like to go to the s &s for these potatoes and other breakfastie things. I hate that the line there is absurbly long. especially because Ryles serves the same food for just a pinch more and they have people playing jazz.
(5)
Doris K.
I went for Sunday brunch and it was great, very calm and relaxing. I had the French eggs which was very good especially with the onion cheesy potatoes. My boyfriend had the steak and eggs which could have had more flavor but after putting A1 on the steak it tasted great, although I believe that no steak sauce should ever be added to a New York strip. I really enjoyed the jazz music that was playing. I wish that the hostess wouldn't have been so unfriendly but we definitely enjoyed this place and plan on coming back. Revisit 9/9/07: Both quiche and corned beef and hash were delicious. Peach bellini was awesome. One thing that I did notice about this place is that service is rather slow. The staff doesn't seem to be able to get it together. It shouldn't be that hard when you have a host and a food runner.
(4)
Kevin C.
This rating is for their BBQ only, not for the jazz club / bar scene that happens later in the evening: I just relocated from the southeast US. My wife and I were wandering around Boston and Cambridge today and though, "Why not try to get BBQ up here in the northeast?" I just searched on Google Maps on my cell phone for BBQ, and this place came up....I should have read Yelp first. We walked in around 6:30 (on a Saturday) and there were maybe 2 customers at a table ordering food and 4 people at the bar. It was EMPTY. We ordered a brisket platter and a pulled pork platter. The two platters were roasted meat, apparently cooked in a regular oven with no spice rub or sauce. The beef was ok, but somewhat dry. The pork was a sloppy, greasy mess. These roasted meats were changed in to BBQ in the kitchen by pouring some sauce over the top before serving. As BBQ goes, I'd put this at the grade school cafeteria level. Now I know this place is really a jazz club / bar with a bit of BBQ on the side. I guess we should have eaten somewhere else and arrived several hours later for drinks.
(1)
Kim P.
We (party of 5) got there around 10:45 a.m. for Sunday brunch, and we were seated right away. The food was pretty good (same menu, albeit smaller, as S&S), and the music wasn't too loud (make sure to ask to sit far away from the band). I was a little hesitant to try this place after reading some of the yelp reviews, but I'm really glad I went. Just to add my voice to the choir: You should go to Ryles for brunch. It's good enough. You get a lot of food that tastes pretty good. You can get a Kir Royale (my favorite drink). Go relatively early. The salmon hash was very good, despite the disgusting name of "Salmon Hash." Bagels and orange juice also above average. Excellent, friendly coffee-pot-always-in-hand-ready-to-refill service. I'd go again, to make a long story short.
(4)
Stacey D.
I read great reviews here of their supposedly delicious brunch - so decided to bring my dad and mom for Father's Day. Well, perhaps they were busier than normal because of the holiday, but the service and food were equally poor. My dish came with asparagas which was grossly overcooked. The potatoes were also not really seasoned at all. Everything seemed mass produced and rushed. Also, the tables were all arranged tightly together, such that you could barely walk between them. I gave a few stars here because I did go one night to see a jazz band and the atmosphere was quite nice and refreshingly diverse. I would go back for a show, but certainly not for brunch.
(2)
Brian D.
Cool ambiance, terrible service. Went here on a recent weekend night to see a friend's brother's band. We walked in a little after 9 to find a pretty dead crowd. Most of the tables were full but the bar was pretty empty. There were about 7 of us and we lingered at the bar for a moment so we could figure out where we were going to sit and/ or stand. Within the first 5 minutes of being inside this bar I was shooed away from the bar no fewer than 3 times by 2 different waiters. And NOT in a nice way. Based on the tone of this waiter's voice, us standing at the bar was ruining his life. We pushed together a few tables for what admittedly ended up being a fairly large group. We waited about 20 minutes after sitting down, and there was no waiter in sight. Someone went to the bar to try to order a drink, and again was shooed away. Our waiter would be coming soon, we were told. The waiter came and brought a round of drinks. We would never see him again. After about 40 minutes we all started going to the bar to get drinks, and proceeded to do so for the rest of the night. At one point my friend, who had been at the bar earlier than the rest of us, went to the bar to close the tab he initially opened. They told him to go away, and that the tab would be brought over to him. This never happened. At the end of the night I went to our waiter and asked him for our tab. He said "you guys started to go to the bar, so I figured you didn't want me to come over." "We went to the bar" I told him, "because you stopped coming over." That is what I call service.... Anyways, this place doesn't hold a candle to Wallys. It is definitely not a place to go with more than 2 or 3 friends.
(2)
Kimberly P.
I will proclaim my love for brunch until the day that I die. When one combines breakfast food with alcohol and reminiscing of the night before, I really and truly believe that the stars align. That being said, I try to brunch it as often as humanly possible. Case in point, my visit to Ryles Jazz Club one fine Sunday morning to catch up with a group of gal pals. I made a reservation for 18 of which they were more than accomodating (although they did misschedule my reservation twice but I guess the thrid time is the charm). Also, when a few friends had to cancel, they were very understanding and did not adopt an attitude when hearing of the change in table size from 18 to 13. Also, service was FANTASTIC. One server and she had our drinks (which were fantastically priced at about $6-7 per non watered down drink) to our table pronto. Also all of our food arrived around the same time and was piping hot (a huge deal for a party of our size!). The food was decent - nothing overly spectacular but definitely satisfying. Also, the jazz was a nice backdrop to friendly conversation. All in all, I'd definitely be back for the jazz brunch and I highly recommend this place for large parties!!
(4)
Rebecca Y.
Holy Brunch Batman! That was some good eatin'! Some tips and thoughts: 1. You are going to want to go closer to lunchtime because this is the only meal you are going to eat all day. 2. You are going to look at paying $8+ for ordered brunch and question your choice. Don't. Your food will arrive and you will need to do stretches to fit it all in. 3. You are going to be thrilled with the balance of the meal. When you leave stuffed you are not going to feel gross AND stuffed becuase you consumed all major food groups - including fruit! 4. You are going to bump your table neighbor about 10 times a meal. Just remind yourself that how they fit everyone in. Enjoy!
(5)
Dachary C.
Where else can you get live music, ballroom dancing, Mitch's BBQ, and a killer Sunday brunch? Nowhere! Ryles has two levels: downstairs is always grooving with live jazz (sometimes Latin jazz, sometimes blues, and occassionally a big-name artist.) Upstairs you can find dancing - depending on the day of the week, you might find salsa, reggae, or swing. Check out the website for up-to-date info on what's playing, and you can also order tickets online (very useful for the occassional big-name artist. They do sell out.) Although I love jazz, I've got a favorite venue that Ryles just can't beat... but for Sunday brunch, Ryles is the spot. The atmosphere is great and the food is oh-so-tasty. Ryles is either owned or managed by the same people who have the S&S Restaurant across the street, so the brunch food is the same food boasted by the S&S - but the combo of awesome omlettes and lively jazz is a great way to start a lazy Sunday. If you're going for Sunday brunch, make reservations or be prepared for a wait - it's a popular spot.
(4)
A V.
Nice way to start a Sunday.
(4)
Freelunch L.
Jazz Brunch... Jazz was good. Service was slow... very slow... Food was OK... As Crane Wife mentioned, forget about reservations. Made a reservation on-line and never heard from them.
(3)
Kathy K.
My first day in Boston my friends took me to Ryle's for the jazz brunch. I really liked the atmosphere and listening to live music was cool. Apparently it gets really crowded there, so it was nice that we didn't have to wait since it wasn't busy last Sunday. I had the eggs benedict which were okay. I'd definitely be down for going again and trying one of their omelettes which looked better. Our waiter was really nice, though it sometimes took awhile to get his attention to refill our coffee cups. Overall, I'd recommend!
(3)
Skyler J.
jazz brunch is fun. food is decent, live music is good. fun atmosphere to drown out a hangover with a few friends.
(3)
R A.
I'm really surprised about the reviews! I thought this place was wonderful. We went for Sunday brunch. The prices were extremely reasonable for having a live jazz show. The jazz was amazing and the food was delicious. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Monika S.
The music at that restaurant is the only reason I give them two stars and not one. It is nice to chat with friends and eat when you can listen to the music in the background. I went there with a group of friends for brunch one Sunday morning. The food was OK but after eating their food (some salmon/eggs dish) I got really sick for two days. I am sure that I won't eat there again. I might get convinced to go there ONLY to listen to music when they have evening concerts.
(2)
Roberto C.
Sunday jazz brunch, sunday jazz brunch, sunday jazz brunch. Not much more I can say - although it has gotten crazy crowded since all the Best of Boston awards, etc were given out. One concern (very minor) is the online reservation system & how it doesn't appear to have any connection w/ryles (?). No idea, but twice I've used it - twice the hostess had no reservation in her book. Regardless, the food is delish & the jazz is very good.
Sunday Jazz Brunch here is FANTASTIC. I highly recommend the stuffed french toast and a mimosa. They also offer salsa and swing dance lessons a couple nights a week.
(4)
Josh O.
Not too long ago we were walking down Cambridge St. past Ryles when something caught my eye. Much to my amazement and delight, playing that night at Ryles was the Count Basie Orchestra! Of course we bought tickets. As expected the show was amazing. I have to admit, I didn't pay that much attention to anything else, but really, how can you say no to a place that books the Count Basie Orchestra?
(5)
Duke T.
Place looks nice inside. but other than that i want to talk about an event that is held up in this place from time 2 time called Artist Live where local acts are given a chance to shine by performing music or poetry. Lots of bands have played this place and have all had a common issue. (THEY DONT PAY THE PERFORMERS!!!!) There is a band called elevation theory that i hear plays there alot and they get nothing. But mean while they are charging $15 at the door plus have a bar. So how fucked up is that shit??? Plus it seems like if ur not down with Berklee College ur not cool enough to be in the click. (insert gas face here)
(2)
JEM C.
I love the Sunday brunch here! Great live jazz, the singer was phenomenal and even sang happy birthday to our guest of honor. It was such a chill environment and the generous portions were all tasty. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Rhonda J.
I live on Inman Street, so Ryles is a 2 block walk up the street for me. I LOVE this place! They have the best Salsa dancing in Boston, hands-down. GREAT dancers come here, and there's SO much energy on the dance floor. The lessons are also the most thorough and you get the most instruction for the money... They also have great jazz music. I have yet to try the jazz brunch, but I hear that it's also quite good. If you're interested in listening to live music or Salsa dancing, this is the place to go. Yay for Ryles!
(5)
Ann C.
need something new to do? need a place to impress your date? go to Ryles! they offer salsa dacing lessons and maybe you and your date can be fools/pros together. hips don't lie! after the lessons, you can watch all the dancers wiggle all over the dance floor.
(4)
Ross K.
I went to Ryles on Wednesday night the 23rd of Jan. to listen to the Brazilian Group Sonho Meu. The music was refreshing and their lead singer has a really beautiful voice which shined in some of their more simple ballad style tunes. However, the food was just so-so. The collard greens, usually a favorite of mine, were too sweet and I couldn't bring myself to finish even a small portion of them. The rest of the food wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The atmosphere of cool folks, plenty of dancing, and great music helped make up for the food so if you are going to go make sure the music is a band that you want to listen to.
(3)
Ellie L.
A friendly crowd, small but decent selection of wines, and funky decor, are nice perks, but what's important--as always--is the music, and Ryles keeps its head-bopping crowd happy with solid jazz picks. The huge tower of nachos delivered to the table next to me seemed to satisfy, and if you're not part of a pair enjoying a romantic table for two, word is there's dancing upstairs as well.
(4)
Laura P.
Made a reservation on-line and never heard from them. A friend called to do the same, never got a call back. Finally, I called them and got our reservation for a party of 10 for Sunday jazz brunch. We get there and they have no idea about our reservation. Luckily, at 10:30 AM we were their first patrons so it was no biggie to pull tables together. We got our drink orders right away while waiting for the others to show up. Had to ask for menus to be brought over. 20 min. later our party was complete. 20 min. later the others are still waiting for coffee (what gives? there were only a half dozen tables there at that point). The food was prompt and average, it's just the service that was painfully slow. The music was fab, though.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes
Matt B.
What a cool way to be introduced to a community! A friend and I are in Boston for a week, and we wanted to grab some breakfast after coming into Boston last night. We walked around and didn't find much, until we stumbled upon Ryles. What a cool place! On the first Sunday of every month they have the Patricia Adams Ensemble (upright bass, piano, drums and vocal quartet) playing some awesome jazz tunes. The food was awesome - just like you would get at home. Try the croissants if you can - delicious! A definite place to try if you're in the area!
(5)Alan G.
Had brunch here with my fiancée and a bunch of friends. We were seated pretty close to the jazz band so it was somewhat hard to hear each other talk while the band was playing, but I didn't mind it too much. I ordered steak and eggs with a side of bacon and a side of sausage. The steak and eggs came with 8 oz NY sirloin, a toasted bagel and cream cheese, home fries, 2 eggs, and fruit. The food was good, typical diner food, and thankfully not too heavy. My fiancée had the Eggs Copenhagen, which consisted of poached eggs, lox, hollandaise sauce, English muffin, home fries, and fruit. She only finished half of it, so I had the rest and I have to say it was really good as well.
(4)Monica T.
We go for jazz brunch and take visitors often. The place has typical diner food and prices. I don't recommend the croissant with ham and eggs. I do love the omelette, quiches, and eggs Benedict of all varieties. The atmosphere is one of an older hotel lounge. the restaurant S and S caters and there are so many options to make anyone full! All our visitors have left full and happy.
(4)Arthur C.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ryles Sunday Jazz Brunch. I came with the intention of watching/hearing Yoko Miwa Trio who are an amazing bunch of musicians. The food was good, and well-priced (portions were generous) and I'd definitely come back again when Yoko Miwa Trio is performing. The only downside was that there was only one waitress for the entire restaurant which got pretty full fast. Very slow to get coffee, water, and the check.
(3)Christian J.
Such a great atmosphere to go dancing, charming, nice, good music, great people. Very nice place.
(5)Mary M.
I came here for the Jazz brunch and I enjoyed it. The food is your typical diner breakfast food and is pretty good and decently priced. I really enjoyed the Bloody Mary here too and the service was decent despite how busy they were. Loved the Jazz!
(4)Melissa B.
I went to the jazz bunch this morning with a few friends and I was really impressed! The food was awesome... Great pancakes and eggs... and the service was great! The music was very lively and wasn't too loud so my friends and I could still easily carry on a conversation. We arrived at around 10:30 and very quickly got a table although it looked like there was a wait once we left around noon.
(4)KaterÃn F.
I love coming here for College Night. The place is typically filled with older people otherwise. The music is great - they play old school bachata and even dembow! The drinks are a little on the watery side. And the selection ain't that great. I love how willing the guys are to dance (I'm the type of girl who goes right up to a guy and asks him if he wants to dance) and usualllyyyyy how good they are. This is the only place in the greater boston area where I've found lots of Dominicanos as well - always a plus for me since I'm homesick often and I be missing my people. Icing on the cake: clean ass bathrooms. The entrance is also reasonable, $5 before 11pm and $10 after.
(4)Natalie G.
Emily did an amazing job as the only waitress serving over 50 people insight. The man at the door was rude and unpleasant and made me and my party of eight almost want to turn around and leave but we really wanted to celebrate so we stayed and enjoyed ourselves despite him. This place really needs to hire more people but it has great potential.
(3)Meizi H.
It might be a great place for salsa dancing but def not for foodies. I went for brunch and ordered salmon hash, which was insanely fishy and heavy. My friend ordered french toast and it was not good either. (I don't know how you mess up the toasts) The music was so loud, even us , a group of four sit in the back and still felt like yelling during conversation. I saw some birthday and family gathering parties taken place and it might be a good place for those who dislike engaging any conversation. The crowd was a bit "senior" during weekend brunch. very stressful dining experience for me. It's like cheap diner with loud jazz music. It might have been better if I wasn't sober. (their Bloody Mary was too weird spicy or too much of Worcestershire sauce, I barely could have second sip )
(1)Vivian C.
Sunday night Salsa lessons were scheduled to begin at 6pm, but at 6pm there were just a few couples seated at the bar... and that's it. The DJ didn't arrive and begin setting up till a few minutes later. The lesson began at perhaps 6:20-6:30pm with a single gentleman instructor, who seemed nice and led with a firm hand. Most of the dance floor was filled with couples, as was mentioned above. Other than our little group of single ladies, there were a few other ladies without a dance partner, so the teacher assured us he would make the rounds. Three dances were taught - Merengue, Salsa, and I can't remember the name of the 2nd that had the tap after every third step. We learned the basic move for the leader, how to turn, how to travel, then paired off to learn to do it together. As the dance floor filled, the instructor had the lines rotate back so everyone had a chance to get a good view of the lesson from the front. Lessons lasted till nearly 8pm with a brief break for water. It was basic, yet fun, and cost $10. For an additional $5, you could have a single trip through their short buffet line. On our night there was a bowl of knotted rolls, a second bowl of a fresh basic tossed salad (a mix of greens, cucumber, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, croutons), and two hot trays (one half and half buffalo wings and rice pilaf, the second a vegetarian penne pasta dish with a red sauce). Fills your stomach, but nothing exciting. The pasta was overcooked. The dance floor remained opened and some new people showed up who seemed to know what they were doing, including a couple that I spotted who arrived carrying their dance shoes, and an individual fella who went around the room asking the various ladies for a dance.
(3)Charlena K.
I've been here twice- both times for musical showcases. The venue can get pretty loud which drowns out the signers, but overall it's a cool place. Music, bar and dining on the first floor; salsa dancing on the second. Clean restrooms. Good nachos. Cool vibes for music lovers. The second time I went they were way understaffed, but the man behind the bar was awesome (perhaps his name was Warren, I don't recall). $7 cover charge. Street parking is impossible although both times I went I found parking after only about 5 mins of searching.
(4)Natalie D.
Sunday brunch here was excellent! We had a reservation for 4 at 1pm and we were seated right away once our party was complete. Live jazz was amazing but no air conditioning or open windows made the air stuffy. Service could have been better -we needed more time to think about ordering and the server seemed huffy about it. Food was perfect and drinks were solid. I can't wait to come back here for another Sunday brunch.
(4)Pam S.
The music is great, they have good jazz performance. However, the food is just average. They serve very large portion, however I always prefer quality to quantity.
(3)Archu S.
Me and my husband went there last Friday and to our surprise the bar was empty! We got the best seat though as we had the first choice. We ordered some food - Pizza and Fish, both were terrible! Pizza looked and tasted like it was deep fried. Fish was not fresh and that great. After hour and half the band started to set up the stage and we were pretty excited about the live jazz music. We were sooo happy that the band was awesome! It was really good. We ordered some drinks - martinis, they were terrible too. The olives in the martini were old and stale. Apart from the live music, there is nothing else I would recommend!
(3)Nisreen G.
This is a review solely for the salsa and Latin nights on the weekend: So. Much. Fun. Here's why I love Ryle's salsa and swing nights on the weekends: there is no judgement from anyone. There are very few places in the city where people are doing organized dances and don't mind the slightly off beat two left feet baffoon bopping around them ( yeah, that's me. I'm proud of it.) Loud music, a happy DJ, and a room full of people who are there just to dance. Bachata, meringue, salsa, swing, with so many different styles of music and instructors willing to jump in and dance with you if your partner-less or just show you a few moves, there really are few other ways to just dance. While all the Latin nights are 18+ the crowd age ranges pretty much weekly from 20 - 50 year olds enjoying the music. The price at entry is between 10-15$ depending on the weekend night and while 15 seems a little pricey, most sessions include dance lessons before and a party till at least 1 am. Not a bad package deal. Bring your friends, take a date, go by yourself, whatever your preference it's definitely worth checking out Ryles on a weekend night.
(4)Tanya S.
Brunch menu is definitely creative, and the jazz group is always very enthusiastic and fun to watch! It's a treat. The waiter service can vary a lot, but the basics are definitely covered.
(4)Corey L.
Went there for a goodbye party for a co-worker. Was a great venue for it. I like their drink selection (particularly bottled beer). Staff was great, prices were reasonable. I've also been there for other occasions, including dancing. I like this place. Parking is a pain
(4)Jess R.
We came here for the jazz brunch on my mom's birthday. The music was great. The food (at least at brunch) is identical to the S&S across the street. I did notice a slightly odd taste to both the home fries and the bagel which I've never noticed at the S&S--not inedible, just weird. However, the real reason this review is only two stars is because of the reservations issue. Their web site was down when I tried to make reservations for brunch, so I phoned them. The guy I spoke to took my reservation over the phone. I even asked him if I needed to call back later to confirm, and he said no, everything was all set. We showed up on the day and time of the reservation, and...no reservation. Luckily, they were able to seat us anyways. I asked the hostess about it, and all she could say was that they really prefer people to do reservations on the web site and that whoever takes reservations over the phone doesn't really write them down or anything. In other words, they lied to me about taking my reservation. Not cool, Ryles, not cool.
(2)Lissa M.
I went there for a Sunday Brunch. It was great!! Truth is, that I was going to visit City Girl Cafe with 4 friends, but it ended up being so small and a long wait. We stumbled upon Ryles cafe and I was blown away! This is a GREAT Sunday Brunch spot. There was live music, great lighting, nice ambiance, and friendly staff. The service is a tad slow, but the food was great. I had the Croissant French Toast and it was delicious!! My friends had the French Toast with Brie and fig and he said it was great. Another friend said their potatoes weren't the best; but overall presentatino and food was really good. The orange juice was phenomonal. Great spot for a small group. Great date spot. And there's live music every day. I would definitely come back to check this place out at night, although the dance floor looks TINY.
(4)Matthew I.
Walking past on a Sunday, heard the jazz and decided to try it. Great music. Really nice jazz, perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch. Tried the Eggs Benedict. Unfortunately the eggs were slightly under-cooked, and the hollandaise a little bland. My partner had the Corned-beef hash which was done well with onions in a juicy mash, not too salty either. The two eggs on top however suffered from the same malady as above. Waitresses were darling: very nice while still authentic (they liked you but you got the feeling they wouldn't care if you didn't like 'em back). Drip coffee only which I think is to their loss: who wouldn't enjoy a nice Sunday morning cappuccino while listening to great live jazz? Would certainly come back. Looking forward to visiting during an evening.
(4)Sarah E.
Breakfast and jazz! Together here at Ryles. The breakfast is a little pricey but the food is unique and tasty and you get a lot. I'd highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Boston area.
(4)Riley W.
Great Good food friendly staff great music I had the croissant French toast and Canadian bacon delicious,going back for Dinner tonight
(5)Ben O.
Awesome place. Jazz brunch is a must. Incredible value at it's core; good food, good drinks, great music and an equally as great atmosphere, all for a little less than $20 per person. Considering the broad range of entertainment options in the Boston area, it's very difficult to beat. Can't say enough good things about Ryles. Commute from Quincy whenever I can to stop in. I can only imagine how awesome it must be to live in a place where Ryles is a neighborhood institution. Much love
(5)Lady S.
Great place for spontaneous and last moment meetings with friends. Unless you want to double check and go to the website to check what kind of live music is going to be played that night. Tickets are cheap, food is good and they serve beer (full bar ) + that live music that you might be listen while talking to your friends or even dancing. Dancing like being in a club without feeling that crowed sweating people around you, you'll have enough space to shake the body without touching others. if you don't want to dance, you just can be drinking and eating great food while enjoying the panorama, in the other side of the room, of the live band playing great music and people having fun dancing. This lets the place not to be too loud. So, you won't be screaming at your friends. What else you can ask for a great night! i definitely recommend this place to adults who like to have fun dancing, but they feel too old to be dancing in a club. The local bands that played there are great, normally they have their own songs, but sometimes they sing some famous songs from famous singers. Good on weekends for some partying night, weekdays it is more a classy night out.
(4)Cassandra F.
I came to write about a very uncomfortable experience I had with the woman collecting money at the door on Thursdays nights. I came in at 11:10PM for a night where the website advertised a $10.00 cover. She said it was $15.00 dollars and I told her, they falsely advertised on the website and I was standing with a group of people who were also in the same position. She proceeded to say, "How do you think I feel that I have to deal with YOU people," which felt racially bias. She is being paid to work the door and it was disappointing and confusing that she was seeking my sympathy in such a matter. She also said there was no one she could talk to, which felt odd. I will say, I came back two weeks later and I had the most amazing time simply because the deejay and dancers were amazing. I endured her attitude for the music because it's a part of my culture and this time I got their before 11:00PM. 1 star at the door, and 4 stars for the dance floor.
(2)Wayne K.
Still among my favorite jazz brunches in the Boston area, period.
(5)Ted S.
Do NOT go for the food. They have excellent live music, but the food is... the food is not... it's just not appropriate. Live music, awesome. Food, no.
(3)Ellie W.
I remember arriving at Ryles for jazz night with two friends, only to find a band and no other patrons. Needless to say, it was not a happenin' night. I probably should've planned ahead of time and chosen a better night to go, but still, it was kind of fun listening to jazz with practically nobody else there. In a movie scenario featuring a date couple, it might be romantic, but it was just us 3 girls and a band with no audience, so 'twas a LITTLE less than romantic. Just a smidgen. Ok, it got weird after 30 minutes. The place itself has a somewhat oldschool vibe. From what I remember, the interior is red, black, and white, and the tables have little ticket stubs and illustrations of old jazz musicians on them. Not sure if they've changed it; it's been awhile. Ryle's is known for its jazz and the salsa club upstairs, which I think takes place a few times a week. I think it's worth a shot for a night of jazz if you're in the area. Just remember to pick the right night. Otherwise, Sculler's and Wally's are the top two jazz spots in Boston, where maybe you can feel a little bit of a New Orleans vibe thriving in ya.
(3)Charlotte M.
This review is for Latin night on Friday nights only. So much fun! I love Latin music, and I have friends that do as well. We don't know how to dance to it that well, but we always find a Latin guy that will take us for a spin on the dance floor. The party doesn't get started until quite late, around 11:00pm. Most of the guys are gentlemen. I've always had a great time here, lots of nice people to meet and people watching as well! The security guys are awesome, very friendly, not robots like at most places. I have been lots of times and will be back!
(5)Priscilla Z.
Don't know if it was crazy of me to do so. But I was visiting NYC, and this guy was going to this club to dance. So I squeeze this event into my travel plan. It took me 6 hours to reach south station in Boston, and spent 1 hour in the club to dance. This was really insane of me! The dance was OK, they had some performance, and they provided some refreshment. I can only say that there are not so many salsa dancers in Boston than in LA. But still, there are masters everywhere, even in China. I think I enjoyed 1 or 2 dance. But after all, I came because of him. So if I didn't come, I would be more regretted. That is just me....still a young girl......
(3)Monique S.
Two of my favorite things to do in this world are listening to jazz and brunch (I really love unlimited mimosa brunch, but unfortunately they don't have that in Mass.). Ryles combines the two in a great dining experience. They were flexible with our reservations after we had to postpone a half hour. Once we sat, we were promptly served. I really like that the waiters work as a team. We had help from two waiters who made sure we got what we needed. The only thing was my friend had to wait a while for toast and whens he got it, it was burnt. The music was great. There was a trio playing when we went. They do close down relatively early, around 3:00 p.m.
(4)Meena K.
I came here on a whim with my friend, and absolutely loved it. Music was great, food was okay. We had fun. Was a nice and relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Emily C.
This place has great food and live music, but the service as awful! First, the food. Great Southern food. I had the BBQ chicken and collard greens, all delicious. The cornbread was great, too. Now for the service. There seemed to be only one waitress on a busy Saturday night and she was very inattentive. She accidentally charged our credit cards for another table's bill. We got it reversed just fine, but I can't say we left her a big tip.
(3)Jill G.
I went there last Friday night for some live jazz music and drinks. The music was awesome and the drinks were delicious! It was low-key and the service was great. Definitely a good live music spot.
(4)Hannah M.
I wanted to give 3.5 stars (I usually do). We had a lovely jazz brunch at Ryles, mostly lovely due to the company, but the food was good and the jazz was nice. I got the croissant French toast and ate it ALL. It comes with a side of fruit and your choice of meat (bacon, sausage, ham). My husband got the special omelet which he said was good, but wasn't too impressed with the sides (homefries, bagel/cream cheese). Our friends got blueberry pancakes (and ate them all) and eggs Florentine which looked yummy. Bloody Marys were decent, both virgin and non and it's so nice to eat brunch with live music in the background (it was a little loud, but we were right up in front). I'd go back for sure.
(3)Christopher I.
Not exactly sure what it was about this place, but it wasn't anything exceptional. Seems like a good place to go dancing or to meet larger groups of friends, if that's what you're after.
(2)Bassem S.
Sunday Jazz Brunch= super fun. Went there for a date around Christmas, where they played traditional holiday songs as well as most of the Charlie Brown Christmas score. The food was ok, a decent but classy brunch menu, as it offers a little something for everyone, but a slightly higher price that I would like. But if I think that premium goes to keeping the band around, that is a premium I am happy to pay. A bit of a hike to get to (I walked from the Harvard Square T stop in the winter), but a nice option for those who want to break up their Sunday brunch monotony. Fills in around 11, so I'd get there early to get a good seat (and avoid any waits).
(3)Lisa I.
I want to like this place. It's unique and a somewhat different evening activity. But I've been here twice, and both times were just ok. The food is pretty bad. I think it actually comes from the S&S restaurant next door (see my review for that or I'll just give you the highlights - BLAH). The music is hit or miss - the first time was very strange, but the second time was better. The atmosphere just isn't where it should be for a jazz club.
(2)Keoki Z.
I come to Ryles to dance salsa. Ryles is one of Boston's oldest and most famous salsa venues. It caters to LA and New York-style salsa dancers. I go out on Sunday nights. Sundays used to be a heavily New York-style crowd in the past, but over the last 2 years since I've been dancing, the crowd has been more mixed with other styles. The people will be of many different ages, ethnicities, and experience. For the most part, people are just here to dance, not to pick anyone up. The DJ is usually Rob Suave, one of Boston's most celebrated salsa DJs. Rob plays a wide variety of salsa music, including some jazzy and romantica songs. He's also been known to play some very rare and funky tracks that will put a smile on your face :) The music will be mostly salsa, with a sprinkling of cha cha, bachata, and merengue. The dance floor on Sundays is relatively small compared to a place like Havana Club on a Friday (the upstairs floor at Ryles is more comparable to Havana Club, but it's open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not Sundays). Ryles gets crowded often on Sundays, so learn to take turns using the dance floor with other people. If it's too crowded to dance, wait for the next song. Tuesday and Wednesday night salsa at Ryles are also supposed to be pretty good (especially Tuesdays), though I've only been out to Ryles on those nights once or twice. They're both on the second floor, which is a much larger dance floor.
(5)T T.
Great place for jazz music. OK when I was there, they played some cheesy stuff that could be popular among people who are not very familiar with real jazz (Such as "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green") but still their performance was quite stunning. Of course nobody can tell everything by just one visit, but it's worth trying. And the price? You know how much you are expected to pay for jazz bars...
(4)Jeannie C.
This is where I like to go for Sunday brunch. Grab a seat at the bar order a Bloody Mary and enjoy the Jazz. The music can range from fusion to Latin to a straight forward Jazz combo. The food is good and if your at the bar you won't feel rushed as there is always several groups of people waiting for tables.
(4)Andres M.
I have been here twice. The first time I went upstairs to listen to some great Brazilian Bossa Nova. The second time, a few days ago, I went for Sunday brunch. I had a nice omelet with lots of veggies and potatoes. The best part was the live jazz being played. I would go back again.
(5)elizabeth b.
For those of you who languish in the great white north pining for barbecue, the ribs are worth a try. Stop in after work, before the music starts, and cozy up to the bar with a beer and a plate of cue....mmmmm.
(3)Jessie H.
This is one of my favorite venues in the Boston area for live music - therefor 5 stars. They should have more acts that I want to see and I would go there more.
(5)tricia n.
i went to ryles in camridge for their salsa/swing dance lesson saturday and have to say it was a blast...if you go solo or with a date or group all will have a laugh and a great time.....no previous dance experience required....there happened to be a large amount of dance teachers there and all were open to dancing all through the night....my date and i had such a good time both of us can't wait to go back .... the teachers from the supershag dance studio were amazing you couldn't help but be sad when the night was over
(4)Bonnie G.
I've been here twice and really enjoyed my brunch. Last time had a Peach Bellini (which was frozen-different but really refreshing), poached eggs (I think it was Eggs Oscar-a special) with asparagus, hollandaise sauce, crabmeat on potato pancakes instead of the traditional english muffin, a cup of really good fruit, bagel with cream cheese and it was pretty satisfying and tasy. Decent ambiance (although a bit dark for brunch), live jazz (a lil smooth for my taste), fast service and a diverse group of people round out this Inman sq. resturant. Why only three? While I like here, it suffers from comparison to other brunch places like Sound Bites, Centre St. Cafe, Sorellas, Trident Cafe, to name a few. The cost is a bit much for the meal and unless you are in Inman quite a bit out of the way. I like it, but I don't love it in a "omg, I wanna come here all the time" kind of way.
(3)Lala L.
Love the atmosphere. The brunch menu is extensive, so it's a crowd pleaser. It can get pretty crowded in here tho, so do come early or on a rainy day. Parking is a pain too. The jazz band can get a little too loud.
(4)Elena Z.
A very good jazz lounge - with occassional Brazilian jazz nights - that serves up mean barbeque fare. Southern America continues to mix with South America upstairs during salsa nights on Thursdays. Overall, a soothing spot to spend an evening with friends on a weeknight.
(4)Michelle D.
Ryle's has something for everyone. You want Salsa? Check it out on Thursday and Sunday nights. You want live music? EVERY night is live music downstairs. Saturday nights upstairs features "Four on the Floor" a mixed Swing, Salsa and Ballroom night. A great night to get your goove on "Dancing with the Stars" style and get drinks from the bar. The food is great too. I haven't tried Mitch's BBQ yet but I will. I only rated this club 4 stars since they just started charging for WATER! boo!
(4)Jesse N.
The ryles is a chill jazz-club that continues to have live performers of high caliber every once in a while. The food is is a variety of american and tex-mex, but that is not the reason people go there...They go there to hear great jazz. Aisde from the jazz, The Ryles also hosts latin and salsa nights on its second level that are frequented by an avid dancing crowd. This is a great way to meet new people from around the area.
(4)Roshni R.
nice jazz club (good live music). dance classes on certain evenings. older crowd than you see in the boston club scene.
(4)Daniel W.
The food at brunch is OK and it is hard to talk over the jazz brunch. I went with a group of 8 and we wouldn't hear other than the person sitting right next to us. If you want to sit and listen, go right on ahead!
(2)Suz G.
Do you want to sit right down for brunch? Do you want to linger over bloody's and mimosa's and not feel rushed out the door? Do you want to be serenaded by some cheesy, yet enjoyable, jazz while you're at it? Need a safe place to bring Mom? If you say yes to any of these questions, Ryles is your place! It may not be the best brunch I've ever tasted, but it's comfortable, friendly, and the service is great. My bloody was so strong I nearly stumbled out the door, but hey, it's Sunday, so why not!
(3)Paulina R.
I started coming to Ryle's back in the '90s when it was the only place to go latin dancing. I keep coming because I can count on it to deliver. An ever-changing roster of DJs keeps the music lively and danceable. Some nights it seems like everybody is there and others it is empty, but you can count on some regulars to always be there ready to take you on the floor if you want to dance. And this is a place to dance, eat, drink, and be merry with friends. It is not a good place if you're looking to meet people. If someone approaches you it is to dance, or to get you to sign up for dancing lessons, and, as long as you're good with that, you will have a good time. I love it. They are open late which makes it a great place to go at the end of the night. Their food has a southern flare and if you've been dieting and dancing all day they have GREAT cajun fries. The drinks are not cheap but definitely not expensive. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Downstairs they have a revolving set of bands usually playing a lively jazz but occasionally a mellow or cruisey jazz.
(3)Jimmy H.
I came here on Saturday for the first time. What a fun time it was. DJ strictly alternated salsa and swing tune. It was even fun to look at it how the dimension changed drastically in split moment. It's always fun to participate, but it was still fun to watch it.
(4)Rick V.
I went here for Sunday Brunch and enjoyed the music very much. Unfortunately, my food was just ok. I had a breakfast sandwich which was good, but that is pretty hard to mess up. I was still hungry so I ordered the cinnamon bun. I was the worst looking cinnamon bun I have ever seen: it was flat, had no icing and was covered in raisins. Then I tasted it.... It was horrible. Not only was it dry, but I didn't taste any cinnamon either. The atmosphere was nice though; it was comfortable and entertaining. Similarly, the service was good. If you do go to the jazz brunch, I recommend that you get there fairly early as the place filled up very fast. With that said, I can't say that I recommend the food as it seemed to be very hit or miss.
(3)Jessica T.
I came to this place for a group outing and had no idea what I was getting myself to. As soon as I opened the door, the sound of the salsa music, the men twirling women around, and the heat in the room I felt like I was in Havana! This place is amazing ! I felt intimidated at first with the advanced dancers but everyone seemed very nice. They taught me new steps and did not seem mean. I plan to come back to take lessons. I love to dance but Boston has little to offer so I'm glad I found this place
(5)Tiffany L.
This place is so. freaking. awesome. My gay bestie and I used to come here religiously every Wednesday around 9ish for beginning salsa dancing classes. In my experience, Wednesday nights were not crowded at all, which was the most awesome thing in the world, becuase let's be honest...who doesn't like private lessons for 10 bucks?! After lessons ended around 10, more "regulars" would come. It would get pleasantly crowded - but not overly crowded where you felt like you were bumping into people everytime you turned. Not to mention, the margaritas were fantastic. And trust me - as a beginner salsa dancer surrounded by a room full of experienced dancers, you definitely need a little liquid courage. If you are a beginner salsa dancer with a partner looking for a good night out, this is the place to be. After a month of a few Wednesday lessons, we were definitely getting our groove on...
(5)Sarah Y.
A few friends and I went to Ryles on a Thursday night, the 18+ night (since not all of us are 21 yet). We had no idea what to expect. Right away my friends and I booked it to the unexpected free table of food, then those of us who were 21 ordered some well-priced, well-made drinks. The music was fitting for the type of club, and the DJ took requests. My only experience dancing salsa is at college parties with my friends who grew up in Latin cultures where dancing was just something you learned to do, so I was amazed at seeing the clearly experienced dancers at Ryles who've taken lessons. It was a fun time because I was with my friends and we had finally found somewhere in Boston to go salsa dancing (not to mention for only $5 entrance fee!), but I'm not sure I would go with only girl friends and I definitely wouldn't go by myself. The crowd at Ryles was mostly 30+, and a few of the guys who asked my friend and I to dance looked old enough to be my dad. For the more mature crowd, however, this would be a great place to regularly go! Note: It says they close at 1am, but the two times I've been here, they've stopped the music before 12:30am, and the crowd thins out around or before midnight.
(3)Ali E.
Lets summarize: Music: Great, have some awesome nights & few okay nights Food: Not the best food around but it is decent Service: Good Price: Excellent, you are paying very little for a night out for dinner & live music... definitely worth the price Overall: Will go back there again, & suggest it to any one who want to listen to good music while eating for a reasonable price.
(4)Trina M.
I love this place. This was one of our stops while in Boston and the jazz doesn't get any better! The brunch is out of sight! Mimosa's make you speechless. I will be back Ryles.
(5)Eva K.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The conversation was excellent, the food was good, but oh, the service. The service. A waiter who isn't aware that by the time brunch rolls around his patrons are under-caffeinated and possibly hung over, does not have the right to call himself a waiter. And a waiter who takes 10 minutes to bring coffee is, well, words fail. And afterwards, where is the check, prey tell? Oh look, it's our waiter, hanging out in the corner watching the game on TV. It's really a pity, since this is a decent brunch, but given the fact that there are at least 3 other brunch options within 100 yards of Ryles, next time, I'll be going elsewhere.
(2)Emily P.
We have been to Ryles twice now, in the hopes that our first visit was a fluke... but it seems that it is just consistently bad. The Service: Atrocious. The actual waiter was not terrible, but we were there on a relatively slow night, and the entire staff was sitting around, eating, talking (make that yelling) about how much they hate their customers - with specific examples, and just generally being loud and obnoxious. They kept giving glares over their shoulders at the diners, and saying lewd things into the microphone, while we just tried to enjoy our meals. These were not teenage employees though, they were all adults -- just acting like children. It was an extremely uncomfortable dining experience. The Food: The food is simply not that good. Ribs that are no where near "falling off the bone", hushpuppies so hard that you could use them as weapons, heavily over-salted seafood.... it's all just a little "blah". Overall, I would not recommend Ryle's. There are plenty of other great barbeque joints in Cambridge.
(1)Kerry M.
Salsa night wasn't as latin music focused as I would have expected. I love seeing bands with the big band sound downstairs. Really nice music venue.
(4)Kate S.
I went to a really fun show here--the audience was almost all African-American people--they were so much fun. Then, I walked by at night the next day, and it was all old white people. But I digress. Drink service was good and the music/crowd even better!
(4)Jessica H.
I really enjoy Ryles. I have been here on several occasions and have had fun each time. Although my husband and I don't frequent the brunch by ourselves, it is a GREAT place to bring people from out of town. Their brunch menu has some unique items and has always been good. Having the live music for brunch makes the whole experience memorable. Never have had dinner here, but have been for other shows and dancing and had a great time. Service is not top notch, but otherwise a great place!
(4)Binh L.
The drinks and dance atmosphere is awesome, but the food leaves a lot to be desired for. I've tried the jerk chicken and all those other entrees and nothing impresses me. You know what does impress me though? Their eggs benedict. Everything is so fresh, huge portions, live music, and I just feel like I need to play tennis shortly afterward at the country club. It's delicious. They have it spinach or oscar style if you don't like it with canadian ham like I do. Some come here to remember. Some come here to forget. Whether you're dancing or drinking. However, if you came home with a winner.. come back the next morning for breakfast here.
(3)Natalia V.
I've been to Ryles twice for brunch and each time was really good - I'm becoming a fan! It has live Jazz and has some yummy food on Sundays, I love how as soon as you arrive, they immediately bring out the coffee ready to serve for you, if you want. The staff is attentive and friendly. I'll be coming back sometime soon!
(4)Julie T.
I used to always come here on the weekends when they would play good music and serve up good food and it was a great place to hang out and show off any bit of Latin that you somehow aquired in your, well, at least in my case, Asian self. They have great tasting buffalo wings and the DJs usually plays good music until I started going so often that I noticed that they were playing the exact same songs every single week with little variety. It didn't help that certain people would remember my face and start asking me to dance every week and I'd have to say yes to be nice, but secretly cry inside because I knew that deep down, they always danced off beat. So I stopped going.
(4)Shannon B.
So I was basically thrilled to find a sunday jazz brunch in Cambridge that isn't mobbed with hipsters,cost a million dollars, or is hard to get to. In a few words, this place was a BUST. Our waiter, Werner, was completely ignorant to what it means to be a waiter. My friends and I get to the brunch when there was barely anyone else in the restaurant, yet we had to wait 10 minutes for anyone to notice us. Werner was not apologetic about taking his sweet time, and throughout the hour we were there, he proceeded to have a snotty attitude and did nothing to ensure that we were having a pleasant experience- checking on how the food was, bringing refills, etc. The best part: we were waiting about 15 minutes after we were done for Werner to notice us and give us our check- he then proceeded to bring it over and tell us we had to leave as they were closing. How incredibly rude! Also, the jazz was sub par. Take your money elsewhere!
(2)John S.
The Sunday Jazz Brunch at Ryles is an institution that everyone in Cambridge and Somerville should experience at least once. The breakfast/brunch menu of the S&S Deli (which is quite tasty) is served accompanied by invariably excellent jazz. The patrons vary from hip couples to families to groups out for special occasions, and the place generally fills every week. Thankfully, you can make reservations online months in advance and even showing up the day of can yield a table with minimal wait time. Despite the crowds, the service is good and the noise is never a problem (folks realize they're in the presence of some great music). It is a wonderful Sunday afternoon activity, and will make you feel cool the second you walk in.
(4)Caitlin G.
This was a really nice experience. We came here for the jazz brunch on New Year's Day and had a good time. The music was great and the atmosphere nice and relaxed. The woman singing was lovely, and during intermission came over to all the tables to personally chat with all the patrons. Our waiter was very attentive and made sure that we were never low on coffee or water. I ordered the Inman Omelette, which is diced ham, mushrooms, onions and peppers, and American cheese. It was good, but the cheese wasn't melted all the way so that was kind of gross. It came with a bagel and cream cheese, plus a little fruit cup (yum!) and home fries, which were mealy and mushy without any crispiness to them (I like my home fries well done). The only drawbacks to the meal itself were the cheese and the potatoes, everything else was tasty. And it's a lot of food for $10.95! I'll definitely be back. Love love loved the music :0)
(4)Kirsten T.
My siblings and I took my blind uncle John out for his 66 bday at Ryles last night. We were disappointed with quite a few aspects of the evening. 1. The website said the "jazz band" would start at 8:30, yet the tripped out electronic music (which I would enjoy, but not my uncle) didn't get going until 9:30 or closer to 10pm. 2. Service was horrible. Our waiter came to greet us and get our first round which took waaayyyy too long, seeming that we were one of three tables in the club. He checked on us ONCE after that. We were going to the bar for the next few rounds and my brother had to stand up and walk over to the stairs (where the waiter was sitting) to order food. I must say, the woman at the front door had a nice smile and was happy to see us. A+ for her. F or the waiter who seemed not to care. 3. Food. No. The cheese fries were covered in cheap tasteless cheese, the "spicy" shrimp were bland and the wings were just meh. Overall, very underwhelming. Will not be returning. This place needs some serious management control. I must say, we left before the band played two songs and went to Wally's on Mass Ave...that place saved our night!!
(2)Hisham K.
My best friend is a Puerto Rican stud. His girlfriend is an Irish/American white girl. Where could they possibly go to dance his native salsa and her beloved swing all at the same time, without stepping on any toes (literally)? Why, Ryles of course! There are basically two venues in the same place. The ground floor is the jazz club, where a live jazz troupe entertains patrons seated at tables, sipping on all sorts of wines and cocktails; the upstairs dance hall is where the dancing takes place. The upstairs bar is smaller than the downstairs, and be forewarned - seating is tight and they won't let you bring your drink on the dance floor (and for good reason - one drink spill can lead to a 4-person pile-up). We paid $15 at the entrance, but it's cool because there's a 30 - 45 minute swing AND salsa lesson that starts at around 8:30 or 9. (Call and check.) The guy who does the teaching is very energetic and has a sarcastic sense of humor, and is apparently a former bouncer. I mean, come on - if THIS guy can learn to swing and salsa, so can I. He gave us some easy moves to start off with, and within an hour we were dancing our little hearts out. The dance floor is a bit awkward in that there are three or four pillars smack dab in the middle of the dance floor, so if you're not careful you might spin your partner and check her up against a pillar. I think it's pretty safe to assume she won't enjoy that. Trust me, I would know. With the bouncer-turned-dancer/DJ at the helm, we danced to salsa tunes, swing numbers, and even a few polkas. Oh, and there was some tango as well for those who requested it. I haven't tried the food here, so I can't say anything about that. However the bathroom is clean, the drinks are strong, and the vibe is awesome. I think this place is great. A word of caution to those who tend to run late - if you arrive during or after the lesson, you still pay $15.
(4)Tina C.
I came here with my former love during our Boston weekend getaway in a past life. We wanted to experience Boston's jazz club/lounge. The food is quite expensive for a early jazz dinner at 5pm on a Saturday night. Although it was not quite busy for a Saturday evening which there were no live performance at that time. Yet I felt the vibe of the jazz lounge as there was much Bostonian flair combined with jazz enthausists. A full bar indeed well stocked with cocktails and beer that will enable patron spirits to be uplifted.
(4)Danielle W.
We had our wedding reception here for a very reasonable price. The owners, Gary and Aimee, were very helpful on the night of the wedding and kept everything running smoothly. The only problem is that we had to use the food from the S&S. Now, I like their food, but it's not exactly what I was wanting for my wedding. But it was fine enough. And, the price was very reasonable! We were able to bring in our own dj, but they would've helped us get one of their regular bands for a good price. Anyway, it was a great experience and the vibe of the place was perfect for my wedding.
(4)Cris E.
This review is for the Jazz brunch only. I absolutely adore it. Food is delicious, wonderful hard working staff and great jazz musicians. It's a treat!
(5)Paul S.
Best night for salsa dancing is on Tuesday nights. I've been teaching the beginners class there for over a year now. :) Say hello!
(5)Jasmine T.
I went to a show here a year or so ago. It was a really great location and everyone was really friendly (I had to take pictures and interview someone for a class I was taking). It was easy enough to get too with a car but I wouldn't know how to get there without one. The food and drinks were both really good and filling. Perfect start to the night.
(3)Nora F.
Came here on a Friday night and it was very empty. Only a few couples dancing. I'd heard great things about this place, but Ryles didn't quite live up to the hype. I'm sticking to Habana Club.
(1)Michael O.
Okay, As I strolled into Ryles last Saturday night I was feeling pretty good. I had taken a nice nap in the afternoon, and was happy and ready to hear some good blues. And as many people do who like live music, I walked in and moved towards the stage to get a good look at the band before picking a table. But after taking no more than two steps away from the bar, I see a waiter flying towards me, waving his hands frantically, and aggressively demanding that I get out of his way. Nice introduction... There was absolutely no cause for this unprovoked incident. I was apparently detouring his path towards the register so he could ring in some "nachos for table 11". Now this kind of behavior might be tolerable if the place was bumping. But it was DEAD. There were two waiters on staff for 40 people at a joint that serves drinks and finger food. Maybe the dude was having a bad night, but that's completely irrelevant. I have bad days, and I have had bad days as a server. But I never take it out on my customer. So after having a few "cordial" words with this fellow, I asked to sit in the other waiter's section (a really nice and attentive fellow, by the way). After that, all was copacetic. The music was good (Tokyo Tramps...blues trio w/ a really good guitarist), the Stella Artois was crisp and hoppy, and the nachos were solid. I couldn't, though, shake the behavior of this jerk. Call me old fashioned, but customer service means a lot to me. Never going back unless I know the band.
(2)Jef S.
Ryles is just ok. The club's an eclectic mix of folks, young and old, from all walks of life. People watching between setbreaks is always interesting. The staff is ok, but the bartenders are only somewhat attentive You'll wait a bit for drinks, especially during the show. I've only eaten here once for the jazz brunch and it was just diner food struggling to be contemporary cuisine. (Sorry, but in my book you can't just dump salsa on eggs, garnish with a sprig of cilantro, and call it tex mex). Head over to the Middle East for Sunday breakfast instead. However, upon reading other reviews, folks seemed to like what they ate, so maybe it was just a bad choice of entree on my part. No, the reason why you come to Ryles is for the music. This club has been consistently able to draw great jazz acts over the years. They never disappoint on the main stage. I'm not much of a dancer, so I can't speak to the upstairs swing hall; however, I've been told it's legendary too. Sure, you could go across town to Wally's, but Ryles is a different, more mellow type of jazz high. Worth it, but beware of crappy street parking and *meh* food.
(3)Rebecca K.
Let me start by clarifying that this is only in terms of the jazz brunch - I haven't been here other times, so it may be different. I came for Sunday jazz brunch and was very excited. I'd heard great things and I love both jazz and brunch - what could be better? Needless to say, I will not be returning. First, the jazz was not great. Perhaps I'm being too picky (I am accustomed to pretty good live jazz), but what seemed to be a quaint family band just wasn't cutting it for me. I was ready to be forgiving, but it was rather irksome that the mediocre jazz was a bit too loud to be able to maintain an easy conversation. Enough about the music, though, right? What about the food? The food was very well priced. $7.95 for a bagel and a healthy serving of lox and $5.95 for a delicious strawberry mimosa is quite a steal in this city. Also, once we ordered, it did come out very quickly. Unfortunately, that is where the nice things I can say about this place end. I've never had such bad service at a place that, in appearances, seems so classy. The waiter basically ignored us the entire time. We had to ask for refills on water and coffee. He also never came by to see if we wanted another drink or to ask if the food was okay. Additionally, it took forever to get our check. Even though the menu clearly said that brunch lasted from 10-3pm, the staff basically started closing up around us, breaking down tables, moving chairs, etc. when it was only a bit after 2. I like my brunch to be un-rushed and it was definitely not a good feeling to feel like I was being pushed out of a restaurant - before the check had even been delivered to the table! One of the girls in my party told me that the menu was exactly the same as S&S deli. I know they don't offer "jazz," but if the food is served the same and priced the same, I'd stick with them for a brunch place.
(1)Ali E.
I'm a huge fan of jazz brunches in general, and of the Ryles jazz brunch in particular. The music was fabulous. My only complaint was that it was a little loud, so we all ended up yelling across the table at each other a bit, but such is life. Patricia Adams, the vocalist who performs the first sunday of every month, is amazing. I kind of want to be her. You get a ridiculous amount of food for your money - I ordered quiche and got a slice the size of my head, plus home fries, fruit AND a (poppyseed, hooray!) bagel and cream cheese, all for 8$. The bellinis, too, were huge and yummy. Ryles rocks my world.
(5)Joseph S.
When I used to live in Boston, this was my favorite place to go. Now that was some time ago (1999-2001), but I'd be surprised if a place like Ryles ever changed. A place like Ryles is built on the archetypal fact it's immune from the changing tastes around it. It simply is in spite of... I loved the atmosphere so much at Ryles. It's what I always wanted a jazz club to be. I loved it so much, I write a short story about it for a creative writing class back in 2007. Here it goes: Temptation is her name. And aptly, temptation is her game. She possesses the most beautiful of visages and the most divisive of scents. Her allure knows no bounds except the length of the thin black cocktail dress that hugs her like a dress should. Like I should... Temptation, my obsession, is the hostess at my favorite jazz club and the object of my affections. She's my weekly adrenaline shot via scent and sight. She speeds my thoughts and turns me about until I'm completely disoriented. Every Tuesday, somewhere from the cab to the door, I lose my ability to comprehend simple conversation. When I step in front of her, I lose all control of language as my senses are overwhelmed with Temptation. I stand mute waiting for her smile right before she asks, "How many this evening sir?" And appropriately I always say, "Just one tonight ma'am," as if it would ever be different. 95 percent of the reason I come to this place is to gaze at Temptation; how could I do so effectively with a guest? The other 5 percent, of course, is the music. Ryles' Jazz Club hosts some of the best musicians in the world, yet they represent only 5 percent of the reason for my regular attendance. Aren't I a musician? Shouldn't it be the other way around? But for those that appreciate both women and music, the two in concert is a devilish desert. To watch Temptation work to the whisk of the snare and the tap of the hat is a fully realized rhythm. Acid Jazz is a haphazard tune that seems completely out of focus, but for one bridge everything comes together and pushes a tingle down your spine. In the same way, the jazz at Ryles' seems to be out of sync with her until, unpredictably during the night, she moves exactly with the beat. Life, beauty, music and Temptation mixing perfectly soothe my soul to the brink of calm. But while my soul seems fully sated, my heart wanes for sustenance. As I smile, thanking whomever for this vision of Temptation painted on a perfect aural canvas, my heart jumps from my chest stretching for her. The calm waters of my eyes plug the tempest behind them. The very vision that releases the days' tension, flexes my heart with longing. Yet I do nothing. To be Temptation is not to satiate, it's only to carry to the brink of satisfaction. Past that lies a territory uncharted but hypothesized by my imagination. If I was to be with Temptation, what would I call her? For once attained she would cease to be Temptation...and become something else.
(5)Emma S.
Fantastic brunch. Huge portions, tasty, and rich and definitely not diet-friendly! Our waiter was sweet, if a bit slow. Live Jazz is a wonderful touch, and really adds class to the experience. My only complaint was that the jazz group took a VERY long break as soon as we sat down. However, I imagine that was a fluke, and I can't wait to go back to Ryles soon
(4)Andrew C.
I posted a review of our New Years Eve experience at Ryles and it mysteriously vanished from there, so I'm re-posting. We were profoundly disappointed by our experience at Ryles on NYE. For starters, they had a package for the evening that included multiple rounds of hors d'oeurves. However, there were several that never reached our table. At one point, we pointed this out to our otherwise absent waiter, who went to the kitchen and brought us out instead a second plate of shrimp (this despite the fact we had earlier told him we couldn't eat shrimp). When we went to the host at the door and communicated our concerns about the food, his only response was "you need to talk to the manager". He made NO effort to get the manager for us or to point out who that person was. In addition, our waiter was awful. For the most part, he ignored our table most of the night. At one point, we had to go to the bar to get our own drinks because it had been so long since our waiter even came to check on us. The band they had for the evening, Soul City, was fabulous. They're a great dance band. But the dance floor Ryles provided was so small, there was hardly any room to dance. Ryles actually put tables on the dance floor.
(2)Amanda G.
OMG Best Salsa ever. Literally, one of my favorite places ever. Sunday night salsa is hotter than hot. There are so many people packed into the tiny space, there are dancers all over the rug. DJ is friendliest guy ever. Must be on something...happy. Salsa, bachata, merengue tunes are solid. Intro class for beginners early on. Crowd is stylin' and the "rule" here is new partners nearly every dance so good dancers will even ask beginners. Hey, that's how i learn! Bartender is a bit solemn, but tip him right and he'll treat you with respect. Jazz brunch is obviously amazing. And although i've never been, there are musicians playing all week. Come to my hood over here! Ryles is fantastic.
(5)Francisco A.
There is nothing bad about this place... Downstairs: Live music every day of the week. Good music, not Journey covers (nothing wrong with those). Upstairs: Salsa and Swing lessons and dancing all night for $15 bucks... Come on, its just awesome!
(5)Meena V.
Sunday Jazz brunch: This is good for occasions when you want a little something more than S&S of your weekend brunch affair. The food was all I could ask for, and the artists they invite tend to vary, and be generally good -- although I always feel bad and a little awkward for musicians at places like this, since people tend to focus more on their food and conversations than on the music itself. Tuesday night salsa: Now this is what I REALLY like about this place! They tend to have multiple instructors and cycle them, but the woman teaching this Fall/Winter is awesome! She's great at helping people of all skill levels feel comfortable, and conducting a lesson that's engaging for everyone. I'd especially recommend Tuesdays here for beginners. And bonus! The current instructor here is also only feminist salsa teacher I've ever met: "choreographer" and "dancer" instead of "leader" and "follower"!
(4)Kristina D.
Just went to Ryles with my new roommate and awesome friend who drove 9 hours to help me move. The Bavarian french toast was delightful--perfectly eggy and filled with cream cheese and jam. I liked the tiny syrup glass that accompanied it. I'm not one for excessive syrup, so being able to control the amount in an environmentally friendly way made me happy. Accompanying the french toast were a cup of fruit and four strips of fairly decent bacon. I washed it down with a peach bellini, which was fair to middling. I would have preferred a bloody mary or a strawberry mimosa--neither of which would have been excessively sweet. Roommate got Bavarian french toast with sausage (those sausage links looked pretty good and almost made me doubt my bacon). Friend got the English omelet (which also came with fruit, home fries, and a bagel--which she swapped out for toast). The jazz was a soothing accompaniment to the lovely brunch and people-watching. As others have said, the crowd is an interesting mix--much more diverse than that of a brunch place in a typical college town.
(3)Armando C.
This place is hard to review, because there are 3 categories: food, live music, and the small dance club upstairs. I don't think the food there is that great. I've been there for dinner and brunch, and thought it was boring and overpriced. The music is hit or miss, like most live music places. But overall, I like the live music atmosphere. They do get good bands, and when the music is dance-able, there's a space to do so. The club upstairs is cool. They have latin night most nights, and the crowd & music give it a good atmosphere for when I have the urge to dance salsa but don't feel like going downtown to a big club. Often the music doesn't have enough variety for my taste, but that's ok. Many times, when I've gotten the urge, I just hopped in my car and went to Ryles for a couple of hours of dancing before going home to go to bed for work the next day. That's what city life is supposed to be about, right?
(4)Victor B.
Thursday night salsa review I came here for an alternate to other places for Thursday night salsa. I got there about 10:45pm and there were hardly 15 people in the entire second floor salsa place. Seemed like most of them were couples, so if you were a cool single guy looking to have fun, you're mostly out of luck. Most people left around midnight. On the other hand, there's no cover so I guess you get what you pay for. The music was excellent with salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. There were a 2-3 really good dancers so at I learned something from watching them.
(2)Jennifer N.
Sunday brunch review: This is the same as eating at S&S (isn't the menu virtually identical?) with the added benefit of nice music and a less diner-ish atmosphere. Sunday brunch at Ryles is often a bit chaotic, and always bustling, and they serve enormous portions of just-above-mediocre eggs, bagels, fruit cups, quiches, etc. Word to the wise- the quiche portions could serve at least two, and I'm certain contain all the nutrition one needs for three days, possibly more.
(3)Julie R.
Came here to see a band at the first floor jazz club on a Saturday night. The place wasn't the busy when we got in then quickly filled up around 10pm. The band advertised the show starting at 9 but did not take the stage till 10pm. We had rushed from our dinner to make it on time but ended up waiting almost an hour for music. There was an opening singer and the sound of the mic was screeching at points. It was probably a fluke on the part of the sound crew not the acoustics of the place. However when the band finally got going it was worth the wait. We had had dinner elsewhere so just got dessert and drinks. The mixed drinks are reasonably priced at $6 but are tiny. Martinis are $8 and are in tiny glasses also. The service was very slow. As the place got full our server was all over the place and we to wave him down to get more drinks. We ordered a chess pie dessert I thought was good. Around 11pm they ran out of Stella then it took another while for another beer to come over. The seats themselves were horrible. If you are going to be sitting down for a few hours the seats should at least be comfortable. They were hard as a rock with a paper thin cushion. We didn't even stay till the end of the show cause it was so uncomfortable. I did like the jazz club atmosphere. I would go back to see some random jazz but probably not for a long show.
(3)Q S.
Came here on a busy Sunday morning. I did really enjoy the jazz, but the food was not impressive. I ordered the "eggs oscar" - a special with two poached eggs on top of potato and crab meat pancakes and asparagus, with holladaise sauce. Sounds good on the menu, didn't taste all that awesome when in front of me. First, I like my poached egg to have running yolks, and the eggs they gave me were hard - and it seems like the entire thing was sitting under a heat lamp for awhile. The pancakes were overcooked, and the asparagus as overcooked and shriveled on my plate under the eggs and potato/crab meat pancakes. One of the other people at my table ordered the special french toast which was suppose to come with cream cheese and jelly inside the toast, but she was disappointed when it came because it just seemed like they made a cream cheese and jelly sandwich and then dipped it in egg. Wasn't exactly what she was expecting. The service was mediocre. Our waiter didn't come to our table to ask us about the food and had to be reminded for a couple of things. I don't think I would come here again. If I did, it would only be for the music.
(2)Marcos R.
As for Ryles the dance hall, I can say this place has an intimate atmosphere, a great house DJ, excellent dancers, mature people, a well stocked bar (which is actually not that necessary, since most serious dancers don't drink alcoholic beverages while doing their thing). You can go to Ryles every day of the week except for Mondays (when it is closed) and Fridays (where it is more suited for grinding purposes, as the music is more geared towards reggaeton). I still go on Fridays, but I guess most readers will be interested in long-distance dancing :P. There's no cover to pay on Wednesdays, and still this doesn't make the experience any less valuable. Saturdays are great if you want to also dance swing and are feeling more ballroomish. Even though I long for the day where bachata will be played more often, I think Ryles is being run very well. I've made many friends there and I will continue to do so. I've been to the Sunday Jazz Brunch once and absolutely loved it. The food was delicious. I went with my siblings and my mother who were visiting me in Cambridge for the first time and they commended me for my selection. Excellent music and good food. Ryles is my favorite place in Cambridge.
(5)Kara S.
I went to Ryles last night with friends to see my neighbor's cover band play. The space was nice for a small show, and it was a decent cover (10 bucks) for a show like that. I already had dinner, so I didn't eat much, but what I had was phenomenal. The hushpuppies were ridiculously flavorful, so much so that I didn't even need anything to dip them in. And the sweet potato fries were equally yummy. The service, on the other hand, was atrocious! The waiter took forever to come to our table to take our orders, the food arrived before our beer/wine, and they would never have brought me my delicious hushpuppies if my friend didn't remind the waiter that I ordered them. And I drank one beer and could have easily had another, but the waiter never came back to check on us/take additional orders. It makes me wonder how much money they are losing because of it. I imagine my friends would have had more wine too, if asked. But alas, we weren't. So sad when really good food is overshadowed by poor service.
(3)Isabel P.
The service was so terrible it actually prompted me to write my first review. I tried to go to Ryles for their Sunday Jazz Brunch this morning and was incredibly disappointed by the service. I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant that blatantly ignored its customers! When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to seat us. We waited for several minutes and no one there acknowledged our presence (not even eye contact to indicate that someone would be with us shortly). After about 6 minutes I finally went up to a few servers who were near the cash register/bar and asked if someone might be able to seat us. One of them mumbled something about the hostess not being there. Not particularly helpful. When the hostess finally did show up to seat us, she didn't apologize for the delay (or even look at us). Once we were seated, we waited another 7 or 8 minutes and no one came to get our drink orders. After about 10 minutes with no server, I decided to run next door to the City Girl Cafe to see if they were still serving brunch. I was greeted by a friendly woman who said that brunch was about to end, but that she could squeeze us in. I went back to Ryles. Still no sign of a server. So we relocated to City Girl Cafe and had an amazing brunch. The food was incredible and it felt nice to be treated as a human being. I understand that sometimes restaurants are understaffed or might be having a difficult/busy morning, but if someone had actually acknowledged our presence and said they were running behind, we would have been understanding and more than willing to wait. After that experience, I don't have much interest in making a second attempt to see if there food is better than their service. If you have to wait twenty minutes to even be noticed, what's the point?
(1)Hannah L.
yay boston for having a nice chill jazz brunch! the vibe in there is awesome, and quite the food selection for brunch. prices are standard, and you are not too squished in the tables! i would have given 5 stars because the jazz was really chill, but there were only 2 waiters for the entire place. 2!!! they were extremely busy....and definitely made loooots of tip money. but it took a while to get our orders taken. also the food is nothing special. but the ambiance and jazz brunch thing make it a unique and chill place to come. i called in at 11:45 for a ressie for 12:30 for 2, and got it. yay! brunch for 2 is the way to go.
(4)Layla P.
Had the bavarian french toast which is very similar to french toast that my boyfriend makes, it's two pieces of bread with jam and cream cheese in the middle, then grilled to perfection. Also tried the pumpkin spice nut pancakes which were flavorful and moist. The hostess was not too friendly, but did her job and our waiter was fabulous. We also tried the strawberry bellini and strawberry mimosa, both were good sized drinks for 5.50 and really started my morning off well. The jazz band was nice background music and the older lady singer was so cute with her big white sparkly top, she even walked around the room and sang. Overall, a good experience and their brunch menu has so many good looking things on it, it will definitely take many more trips to try them all. We made a reservation online but when we got there (1PM) it didn't seem like there would have been much of a wait anyway. But if you know you're going, you might as well make the reservation to be safe :)
(4)Meghan S.
BRUNCH, BRUNCH, BRUNCH!! Everything was delicious; eggs were perfect and the price was right. I don't even enjoy bloody mary's, but a sip of my friends made me reconsider that long held opinion. The jazz was sometimes a bit loud, but hell it's live music at brunch.
(4)Andrew R.
I went to Ryles last Friday night for the first time and had a blast! Two friends and I arrived a bit early for the salsa club upstairs and were offered a table in the downstairs jazz bar until the upstairs club opened. I have never enjoyed a jazz bar this much. The air was clear, the crowd was composed and upbeat, and the live music was great. A bunch of people were dancing to the music, performed by a large band of 9 or 10 people featuring a female and a male vocalist, both of whom were very skilled singers, as well as five-piece horn section, keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. One of the waiters honestly seemed like he was on crack, but even he wasn't obnoxious or anything. Anyway, once the club upstairs opened, we headed up there. I was amazed at how the same venue had an authentic jazz scene downstairs and a passionate hispanic dancefloor upstairs. My girlfriend is much better than I am at salsa and such, but I held my own and enjoyed it. Some of the people there could really dance! There were definitely some sketchy onlooker types lining the edge of the dancefloor, especially as the night went on, but the mood stayed pretty light. The DJ varied up the music styles and had the place moving. I was really impressed with Ryles and am looking forward to going back!
(5)Thuy Tien L.
How awesome is jazz brunch? Pretty Awesome, I'd have to say. But I like brunch AND I like jazz independently, so it seems inevitable that I would be happy when the two are combined. Brunch food is kind of hard to get wrong (who can't make omelets and pancakes?), but they really do it right. I approve. It's also a pretty large amount of food, for the ~$9 price tag--good for hangovers, which many of my friends had. The loud live jazz can get in the way of conversations, especially if your group is a little larger and spread out across several of the small round tables that Ryles offers, but it'll probably be perfect for filling in awkward silences on a first date. Endless coffee refills for 1.99 makes my caffeine-holic heart sing. Word of warning: the Irish coffee is a kick in the face. Much more Irish than coffee. Just so you know. The non-brunch jazz here is pretty good too, and there's a good variety. I'm really curious about the bbq. I'll be sure to update this if I ever try it.
(5)Kai P.
Come for the music - leave the food. It was my first time at Ryles and I found the restaurant and bar areas a little too "Benningans" generic. The place doesn't really have the typical Jazz-club vibe but I know enough people who like it to give the venue a second chance. The menu is all about BBQ and the food we got was bar-food grade at best. For my money, I'd go on a trip to Redbones first before coming here. I'm not easily disgusted, but I found a hair on my fries - the curly kind (not the fries, the hair) and showed it to the waiter who came back with the same plate that had my half-eaten chicken on it but with a handful of new fries. No thanks. Drinks were so-so. Stingy on the booze and the dirty martini my buddy had was really all vodka with traces of olive juice and a few shriveled olives. The girly drinks seemed alright, but overpriced. Next time I go, I'll eat elsewhere and get a few stiff cocktails in me before going.
(3)Rebecca H.
A group of us went to Ryles with the notion that we would class-it-up for the evening. I donned a very cool turtleneck tunic, leather belt and pumps, attempting to look every bit the unpretentious glamazon that I sometimes pretend I can feign. We paid the ten dollar cover (the underpaid young professional in me silently balked at this) and moseyed on up to the bar. The bartender, a rather large sweaty man about two days from retirement, was decidedly unattentive and slow. He also had the worst etiquette I've seen in a long time (aka he would man-handle the drinks and put his palms-- please reference previous mention of sweatiness-- all over the tops of the glasses. Ick). But at the same time, I sympathized because it's pretty crummy to make one guy service an entire busy bar. The music was incredible. The band was on fire! They even performed an encore, which made my night. I would rate this place five stars if it were based on the music alone. Unfortunately, the clientele knocks it down a bit... Since I am an unsatiable people-watcher, this place definitely kept me entertained. Eccentric, older gentlemen mixed with puffy vest-clad sorostitutes. Red-lipped sirens hung on the arms of tattooed Eddie Veder look-alikes. However entertaining this was at first, as more booze was added to the mix, the sorostitues decided that their nether regions had not yet received enough "play." Thus, as the saxophone wailed, commenced an all out grope-and-grind fest. Really people? Really? Grinding to jazz? Seriously? It was about that time that we decided to finish up our mound of (delicious!) nachos and call it a night.
(3)Lance M.
Ryles have been my home for 28 years. I started playing there with the Herman Johnson Band since then, I played with The Billy Thompson Band, and my own. Ryles changed over to a BBQ restaurant. It may not be the best, but it's really good. I love the crab cakes. They don't really feed the musicians, but they have a musician's menu which is discounted. The staff is good I hope the music is good , because chances are you'll be listening to me.The manager at the bar is really cool and this is a fun hang. In all of my years there, I've seen many people have a good time at Ryles !! So go there and if you don't see me, ask about the Lance Martin Band :)
(4)Nick B.
I ended up at Ryles because all of the other jazz places in Boston where sold out. The party I was with wasn't entirely impressed with the overall dining experience. The wait service was a combination of over bearing which later transition to no service. The music, acoustics, venue and location were good though. I would go back and give it another chance.
(3)Nora G.
I like potatoes served to me when i feel gross after corroding my stomach with booze. I like to go to the s &s for these potatoes and other breakfastie things. I hate that the line there is absurbly long. especially because Ryles serves the same food for just a pinch more and they have people playing jazz.
(5)Doris K.
I went for Sunday brunch and it was great, very calm and relaxing. I had the French eggs which was very good especially with the onion cheesy potatoes. My boyfriend had the steak and eggs which could have had more flavor but after putting A1 on the steak it tasted great, although I believe that no steak sauce should ever be added to a New York strip. I really enjoyed the jazz music that was playing. I wish that the hostess wouldn't have been so unfriendly but we definitely enjoyed this place and plan on coming back. Revisit 9/9/07: Both quiche and corned beef and hash were delicious. Peach bellini was awesome. One thing that I did notice about this place is that service is rather slow. The staff doesn't seem to be able to get it together. It shouldn't be that hard when you have a host and a food runner.
(4)Kevin C.
This rating is for their BBQ only, not for the jazz club / bar scene that happens later in the evening: I just relocated from the southeast US. My wife and I were wandering around Boston and Cambridge today and though, "Why not try to get BBQ up here in the northeast?" I just searched on Google Maps on my cell phone for BBQ, and this place came up....I should have read Yelp first. We walked in around 6:30 (on a Saturday) and there were maybe 2 customers at a table ordering food and 4 people at the bar. It was EMPTY. We ordered a brisket platter and a pulled pork platter. The two platters were roasted meat, apparently cooked in a regular oven with no spice rub or sauce. The beef was ok, but somewhat dry. The pork was a sloppy, greasy mess. These roasted meats were changed in to BBQ in the kitchen by pouring some sauce over the top before serving. As BBQ goes, I'd put this at the grade school cafeteria level. Now I know this place is really a jazz club / bar with a bit of BBQ on the side. I guess we should have eaten somewhere else and arrived several hours later for drinks.
(1)Kim P.
We (party of 5) got there around 10:45 a.m. for Sunday brunch, and we were seated right away. The food was pretty good (same menu, albeit smaller, as S&S), and the music wasn't too loud (make sure to ask to sit far away from the band). I was a little hesitant to try this place after reading some of the yelp reviews, but I'm really glad I went. Just to add my voice to the choir: You should go to Ryles for brunch. It's good enough. You get a lot of food that tastes pretty good. You can get a Kir Royale (my favorite drink). Go relatively early. The salmon hash was very good, despite the disgusting name of "Salmon Hash." Bagels and orange juice also above average. Excellent, friendly coffee-pot-always-in-hand-ready-to-refill service. I'd go again, to make a long story short.
(4)Stacey D.
I read great reviews here of their supposedly delicious brunch - so decided to bring my dad and mom for Father's Day. Well, perhaps they were busier than normal because of the holiday, but the service and food were equally poor. My dish came with asparagas which was grossly overcooked. The potatoes were also not really seasoned at all. Everything seemed mass produced and rushed. Also, the tables were all arranged tightly together, such that you could barely walk between them. I gave a few stars here because I did go one night to see a jazz band and the atmosphere was quite nice and refreshingly diverse. I would go back for a show, but certainly not for brunch.
(2)Brian D.
Cool ambiance, terrible service. Went here on a recent weekend night to see a friend's brother's band. We walked in a little after 9 to find a pretty dead crowd. Most of the tables were full but the bar was pretty empty. There were about 7 of us and we lingered at the bar for a moment so we could figure out where we were going to sit and/ or stand. Within the first 5 minutes of being inside this bar I was shooed away from the bar no fewer than 3 times by 2 different waiters. And NOT in a nice way. Based on the tone of this waiter's voice, us standing at the bar was ruining his life. We pushed together a few tables for what admittedly ended up being a fairly large group. We waited about 20 minutes after sitting down, and there was no waiter in sight. Someone went to the bar to try to order a drink, and again was shooed away. Our waiter would be coming soon, we were told. The waiter came and brought a round of drinks. We would never see him again. After about 40 minutes we all started going to the bar to get drinks, and proceeded to do so for the rest of the night. At one point my friend, who had been at the bar earlier than the rest of us, went to the bar to close the tab he initially opened. They told him to go away, and that the tab would be brought over to him. This never happened. At the end of the night I went to our waiter and asked him for our tab. He said "you guys started to go to the bar, so I figured you didn't want me to come over." "We went to the bar" I told him, "because you stopped coming over." That is what I call service.... Anyways, this place doesn't hold a candle to Wallys. It is definitely not a place to go with more than 2 or 3 friends.
(2)Kimberly P.
I will proclaim my love for brunch until the day that I die. When one combines breakfast food with alcohol and reminiscing of the night before, I really and truly believe that the stars align. That being said, I try to brunch it as often as humanly possible. Case in point, my visit to Ryles Jazz Club one fine Sunday morning to catch up with a group of gal pals. I made a reservation for 18 of which they were more than accomodating (although they did misschedule my reservation twice but I guess the thrid time is the charm). Also, when a few friends had to cancel, they were very understanding and did not adopt an attitude when hearing of the change in table size from 18 to 13. Also, service was FANTASTIC. One server and she had our drinks (which were fantastically priced at about $6-7 per non watered down drink) to our table pronto. Also all of our food arrived around the same time and was piping hot (a huge deal for a party of our size!). The food was decent - nothing overly spectacular but definitely satisfying. Also, the jazz was a nice backdrop to friendly conversation. All in all, I'd definitely be back for the jazz brunch and I highly recommend this place for large parties!!
(4)Rebecca Y.
Holy Brunch Batman! That was some good eatin'! Some tips and thoughts: 1. You are going to want to go closer to lunchtime because this is the only meal you are going to eat all day. 2. You are going to look at paying $8+ for ordered brunch and question your choice. Don't. Your food will arrive and you will need to do stretches to fit it all in. 3. You are going to be thrilled with the balance of the meal. When you leave stuffed you are not going to feel gross AND stuffed becuase you consumed all major food groups - including fruit! 4. You are going to bump your table neighbor about 10 times a meal. Just remind yourself that how they fit everyone in. Enjoy!
(5)Dachary C.
Where else can you get live music, ballroom dancing, Mitch's BBQ, and a killer Sunday brunch? Nowhere! Ryles has two levels: downstairs is always grooving with live jazz (sometimes Latin jazz, sometimes blues, and occassionally a big-name artist.) Upstairs you can find dancing - depending on the day of the week, you might find salsa, reggae, or swing. Check out the website for up-to-date info on what's playing, and you can also order tickets online (very useful for the occassional big-name artist. They do sell out.) Although I love jazz, I've got a favorite venue that Ryles just can't beat... but for Sunday brunch, Ryles is the spot. The atmosphere is great and the food is oh-so-tasty. Ryles is either owned or managed by the same people who have the S&S Restaurant across the street, so the brunch food is the same food boasted by the S&S - but the combo of awesome omlettes and lively jazz is a great way to start a lazy Sunday. If you're going for Sunday brunch, make reservations or be prepared for a wait - it's a popular spot.
(4)A V.
Nice way to start a Sunday.
(4)Freelunch L.
Jazz Brunch... Jazz was good. Service was slow... very slow... Food was OK... As Crane Wife mentioned, forget about reservations. Made a reservation on-line and never heard from them.
(3)Kathy K.
My first day in Boston my friends took me to Ryle's for the jazz brunch. I really liked the atmosphere and listening to live music was cool. Apparently it gets really crowded there, so it was nice that we didn't have to wait since it wasn't busy last Sunday. I had the eggs benedict which were okay. I'd definitely be down for going again and trying one of their omelettes which looked better. Our waiter was really nice, though it sometimes took awhile to get his attention to refill our coffee cups. Overall, I'd recommend!
(3)Skyler J.
jazz brunch is fun. food is decent, live music is good. fun atmosphere to drown out a hangover with a few friends.
(3)R A.
I'm really surprised about the reviews! I thought this place was wonderful. We went for Sunday brunch. The prices were extremely reasonable for having a live jazz show. The jazz was amazing and the food was delicious. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)Monika S.
The music at that restaurant is the only reason I give them two stars and not one. It is nice to chat with friends and eat when you can listen to the music in the background. I went there with a group of friends for brunch one Sunday morning. The food was OK but after eating their food (some salmon/eggs dish) I got really sick for two days. I am sure that I won't eat there again. I might get convinced to go there ONLY to listen to music when they have evening concerts.
(2)Roberto C.
Sunday jazz brunch, sunday jazz brunch, sunday jazz brunch. Not much more I can say - although it has gotten crazy crowded since all the Best of Boston awards, etc were given out. One concern (very minor) is the online reservation system & how it doesn't appear to have any connection w/ryles (?). No idea, but twice I've used it - twice the hostess had no reservation in her book. Regardless, the food is delish & the jazz is very good.
(4)Julia W.
Yeah Olivia... I had Werner as my waiter too 10/19/09 and I felt pretty much the same way: snotty attitude and slow service. I kind of felt unwelcome to be honest. I kept thinking... aren't these hard times for the restaurant industry? I mean you would think that in this Titanic of an economy the service would at least somewhat resemble the "Be Our Guest" scene in Disney's Beauty in the Beast. It was a little more like walking into a stranger's house and asking for a drink and having them look at you like "who the hell are you?" My favorite was when our party asked for a drink menu so we could pick our second round, never got it, but Werner eventually did come around to ask if we had decided... because we memorized the menu the first time I guess. Eventually I just got up a got a menu from the front myself. The jazz was eh. Not a lot of soul in it. The drinks were pretty good though and the décor is also cool, especially the piano keys above the bar. I just wish I had felt like I wasn't imposing.
(2)Charoline D.
Sunday Jazz Brunch here is FANTASTIC. I highly recommend the stuffed french toast and a mimosa. They also offer salsa and swing dance lessons a couple nights a week.
(4)Josh O.
Not too long ago we were walking down Cambridge St. past Ryles when something caught my eye. Much to my amazement and delight, playing that night at Ryles was the Count Basie Orchestra! Of course we bought tickets. As expected the show was amazing. I have to admit, I didn't pay that much attention to anything else, but really, how can you say no to a place that books the Count Basie Orchestra?
(5)Duke T.
Place looks nice inside. but other than that i want to talk about an event that is held up in this place from time 2 time called Artist Live where local acts are given a chance to shine by performing music or poetry. Lots of bands have played this place and have all had a common issue. (THEY DONT PAY THE PERFORMERS!!!!) There is a band called elevation theory that i hear plays there alot and they get nothing. But mean while they are charging $15 at the door plus have a bar. So how fucked up is that shit??? Plus it seems like if ur not down with Berklee College ur not cool enough to be in the click. (insert gas face here)
(2)JEM C.
I love the Sunday brunch here! Great live jazz, the singer was phenomenal and even sang happy birthday to our guest of honor. It was such a chill environment and the generous portions were all tasty. I will definitely go back!
(5)Rhonda J.
I live on Inman Street, so Ryles is a 2 block walk up the street for me. I LOVE this place! They have the best Salsa dancing in Boston, hands-down. GREAT dancers come here, and there's SO much energy on the dance floor. The lessons are also the most thorough and you get the most instruction for the money... They also have great jazz music. I have yet to try the jazz brunch, but I hear that it's also quite good. If you're interested in listening to live music or Salsa dancing, this is the place to go. Yay for Ryles!
(5)Ann C.
need something new to do? need a place to impress your date? go to Ryles! they offer salsa dacing lessons and maybe you and your date can be fools/pros together. hips don't lie! after the lessons, you can watch all the dancers wiggle all over the dance floor.
(4)Ross K.
I went to Ryles on Wednesday night the 23rd of Jan. to listen to the Brazilian Group Sonho Meu. The music was refreshing and their lead singer has a really beautiful voice which shined in some of their more simple ballad style tunes. However, the food was just so-so. The collard greens, usually a favorite of mine, were too sweet and I couldn't bring myself to finish even a small portion of them. The rest of the food wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The atmosphere of cool folks, plenty of dancing, and great music helped make up for the food so if you are going to go make sure the music is a band that you want to listen to.
(3)Ellie L.
A friendly crowd, small but decent selection of wines, and funky decor, are nice perks, but what's important--as always--is the music, and Ryles keeps its head-bopping crowd happy with solid jazz picks. The huge tower of nachos delivered to the table next to me seemed to satisfy, and if you're not part of a pair enjoying a romantic table for two, word is there's dancing upstairs as well.
(4)Laura P.
Made a reservation on-line and never heard from them. A friend called to do the same, never got a call back. Finally, I called them and got our reservation for a party of 10 for Sunday jazz brunch. We get there and they have no idea about our reservation. Luckily, at 10:30 AM we were their first patrons so it was no biggie to pull tables together. We got our drink orders right away while waiting for the others to show up. Had to ask for menus to be brought over. 20 min. later our party was complete. 20 min. later the others are still waiting for coffee (what gives? there were only a half dozen tables there at that point). The food was prompt and average, it's just the service that was painfully slow. The music was fab, though.
(3)